Methods and apparatus relating to the use of real and/or virtual beacons

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus relating to use of actual and/or virtual beacons are described. Virtual beacons are virtual in that an actual beacon need not be transmitted but a rather a virtual beacon transmitter at a desired location maybe considered to transmit virtual beacons. In some embodiments a set of beacon transmitter information for one or more beacons is supplied to devices in a communications system. The beacon transmitter information indicates transmission power and location of actual and virtual beacon transmitters as well as information to be communicated by virtual beacons. Devices with access to beacon information can determine based on the location of a wireless terminal whether the wireless terminal is within coverage area of a virtual beacon and report reception of the virtual beacon to the wireless terminal or a component of the wireless terminal which acts upon receiving an indication of beacon reception.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/443,291, filed Jul. 23, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/710,470, filed Dec. 11, 2019, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/036,922, filed Jul.16, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,536,894), which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/135,376 filed Apr. 21, 2016 (now U.S.Pat. No. 10,028,199), which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/811,689 filed Jul. 28, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,363,784),which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/155,428 filed Apr. 30, 2015, each of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to wireless beacons and, moreparticularly, to methods and apparatus for using real and/or virtualbeacon signals.

BACKGROUND

Beacon transmissions are used for a wide range of applications. WiFi,Bluetooth and other types of beacons are becoming common place. A devicedetecting a beacon signal may use information included in a receivedbeacon signal and/or information about the signal strength of a receivedbeacon signal to obtain additional information or to provide informationto another device which can be used for a variety of purposes.

Stores and/or other information providers may install access points totransmit beacon signals to communicate information. They also supportdevices and/or system components which can provide information relatingto a beacon signal, e.g., information indicating a mapping of a valueincluded in a beacon, signal to information. Thus, to support the use ofbeacon signals, transmitters and information providing elements arenormally included in a network which facilitate use of beacon signals bydevices, e.g., mobile wireless terminals of end users, which may detectone or more transmitted beacon signals.

In some systems a network device or other device, operated by the storeor another entity may receive a report indicating receipt of a beaconsignal by a device and respond to the device with information that maybe useful to the device that reported the receipt of the beacon signal.The network or other device in such a case expects to receive a messageindicating that a particular beacon signal was received and, optionally,the strength of the received beacon signal. Thus, such devices mayinclude what can be thought of as a beacon interface which receivesbeacon related information and responds, at least in some cases, withinformation to supplied to the device reporting receipt of a beaconsignal.

It would be desirable if wireless terminal could be able to takeadvantage of devices, modules or other components which are intended toprovide information in regard to received beacon signals even whenbeacon signals are not in fact received and/or the device seekinginformation lacks the ability such as a wireless receiver, capable ofreceiving a transmitted beacon signal. It would also be desirable if anentity seeking to communicate information could take advantage ofdevices, modules or components intended to supply information inresponse to an indication that a beacon signal was received, withouthaving to deploy an actual beacon transmitter in at least some cases.

In view of the above discussion, it should be appreciated that there isa need for methods and/or apparatus which allow devices to communicateor receive information as if a beacon signal were transmitted and/orreceived even when a beacon signal is not actually transmitted orreceived.

SUMMARY

Methods and apparatus for communicating and/or obtaining information aredescribed. The methods and apparatus support the use of what are calledvirtual beacon information and messages relating to virtual beacons.Virtual beacons are virtual in that an actual beacon signal need not be,and in many cases is not, transmitted.

An information provider seeking to use virtual beacons can select one ormore locations, e.g., from a map where a beacon transmitter is to beplaced. The information provider indicates the transmission power levelas well as the location of the virtual beacon transmitter. Theinformation to be transmitted on the virtual beacon signal is alsoindicated. A beacon identifier which may be a value or other identifieris associated with the virtual beacon signal and may be, and often is,of the same format as a beacon identifier used to identify an actualbeacon signal. A set of virtual beacon transmitter information maybe,and in some embodiments is, created for one or more virtual beacons andsupplied to one or more devices in a communications system. The devicesto which the virtual beacon transmitter information is supplied mayinclude wireless terminals and/or a network device. Devices which storeor have access to the virtual beacon information can determine based onthe location of a wireless terminal whether the wireless terminal iswithin the coverage area of a virtual beacon and the signal strength ofthe virtual beacon signal that would have been received by the wirelessterminal if a real beacon signal had been transmitted by the virtualbeacon transmitter. The wireless terminal's distance to the virtualbeacon transmitter may also be determined along with the direction thewireless terminal relative to the beacon transmitter. In embodimentswhere the wireless terminal determines the receipt of a virtual beaconsignal it uses the information internally, e.g., by providing theinformation indicating the receipt of a beacon signal, e.g., a virtualbeacon signal, to a device or component within or external to thewireless terminal which processes information indicating the receipt ofa beacon signal and takes an action, e.g., generates an audible, visual,or some form of perceivable alert, displays a message or takes someother physical action based on the information indicating the receipt ofa real or virtual beacon signal.

In cases where a network node is the device that determines that awireless terminal is to be treated as having received a virtual beaconsignal, the network node sends a message to the wireless terminal oranother device that uses received beacon signal information indicatingthat the wireless terminal received a beacon signal, e.g., a virtualbeacon signal. The wireless terminal then uses the information in thereceived message and reports to a device or component in the wirelessterminal that a beacon signal of the type and strength indicated in thereceived message was received when in fact it was the message reportinga virtual beacon signal rather than an actual beacon signal that wasreceived. Messages reporting receipt of a virtual beacon signal may, andin some embodiments do, indicate distance, in addition to receivedsignal strength, to the virtual beacon transmitter and optionally alsodirection to the virtual beacon transmitter.

A network device external to the wireless terminal or a component of thewireless terminal which receives a message indicating receipt of abeacon signal supplies information in response to such a message ortakes an action on the received beacon signal information whether areceipt of a real or virtual beacon signal is being reported. In thisway, the same device or circuit which responds to messages or signalsregarding actual received beacons can respond to messages reporting thereceipt of a virtual beacon signal as if it were an actual beaconsignal. In fact, the device which provides information in response tomessages reporting received beacon signals need not know that the beaconinformation it is being supplied with corresponds to a virtual beaconsignal or that a beacon signal being reported as being received is avirtual beacon signal. While the reports of receiving a beacon, signalare not actually true in the case of virtual beacon signals the deviceor component within the wireless terminal acting on the report of areceived beacon signal need not know this. By miss-representing to thedevice that takes actions based on received beacon signals, a wirelessterminal can obtain information using messages of the same format whichwould be used if an actual beacon signal was received, and correspondinginformation was being sought. While virtual beacon identifiers andcorresponding information may be included in an information databasewith no distinction between information corresponding to actual beaconsignals and virtual beacon signals, in some embodiments messagesreporting the receipt of virtual beacon signals may include additionalinformation beyond that normally included in messages communicating thereceipt of actual beacon signals. For example, information on thereporting device's angle, direction, or distance relative to the virtualbeacon transmitter maybe reported in a message reporting receipt of avirtual beacon signal in addition to beacon signal strength informationand/or information indicating a time of receipt of the virtual beaconsignal in addition to received beacon signal power level. In the case ofa message reporting receipt of a virtual beacon signal the reported timeof signal receipt is the time at which the wireless terminal was at thelocation on which the received signal strength report was based. Thus,the reported signal strength in a message reporting receipt of a virtualbeacon corresponds to the wireless terminals estimate of the strength ofbeacon that would have been received if transmitted by the virtualtransmitter at the time indicated in the message reporting receipt ofthe virtual beacon signal given the wireless terminal's actual locationat the indicated time and specified location of the virtual beacontransmitter.

Thus, it should be appreciated that receipt of a virtual beacon based onwireless terminal location and virtual beacon transmittercharacteristics can be determined either in a network element outsidethe wireless terminal or in the wireless terminal depending on theparticular embodiment.

For each of one or more virtual beacon signal transmitters, a wirelessterminal or network device responsible for determining receipt of avirtual beacon signal by a wireless terminal stores the location of thebeacon transmitter, the transmit power level of the beacon transmitter,the information and/or beacon identifier communicated by the virtualbeacon signal. Additional information may include the type of beaconsignal and/or the frequency band allegedly used to transmit the virtualbeacon transmitter.

In some embodiments the wireless terminal includes a locationdetermination device or module such a GPS receiver or locationdetermination circuit which may operate on received signals whether theybe GPS signals, beacon signals or other signals. Thus, in variousembodiments the wireless terminal may determine its location in any of avariety of different ways. Wireless terminal location determination isin some embodiments performed by a network device, e.g., based onsignals received from the wireless terminal or based on informationreceived from other devices. The determined wireless locationinformation whether it be determined in the wireless terminal or networkdevice is communicated to the device or component of the wirelessterminal or network for determining whether a wireless terminal hasreceived a virtual beacon signal. Based on its determined location at agiven time, the wireless terminal or network device which supportsvirtual beacon signal receipt determinations, determines, based onstored information, if a wireless terminal is in the transmission rangeof a virtual beacon transmitter. If the device responsible fordetermining receipt of virtual beacon signals determines that a wirelessterminal is in the range of a virtual beacon transmitter thedetermination device determines based on the location of the wirelessterminal, the transmit power level of the virtual beacon and thelocation of the beacon transmitter a received signal strength which isthe strength of a beacon signal that would have been received by thewireless terminal if the virtual transmitter had in fact transmitted abeacon signal at the transmit power level of the virtual beacon signal.The determination device may, and in some embodiments does use a pathloss model that takes into consideration distance in determining thereceived signal strength corresponding to the virtual beacon signal.

Once a received signal strength has been computed, the virtual beaconreceipt determination device in some embodiments proceeds to generate areceived beacon signal reporting message, e.g., signal, reporting thereceipt of a virtual beacon signal. The reporting message includes, insome embodiments, an identifier identifying the wireless terminal orother device reporting receipt of the virtual beacon signal, thedetermined received signal strength of the virtual beacon signal, abeacon signal identifier identifying the received beacon signal and/orother content which was to be communicated by the virtual beacon signalif it had been transmitted as an actual beacon signal. The beacon signalreporting message may have the same form and content of a beacon signalreporting message used to report receipt of a real beacon signal butitself is not a beacon signal. For example, a cellular message may besent to a wireless terminal indicating receipt of a virtual WiFi beaconsignal or a WiFi data signal which is not a beacon signal may be sent tothe wireless terminal indicating that the wireless terminal should actas if it received a WiFi beacon signal having the content and receivedpower level indicated in the communicated message In such cases, thevirtual beacon reception determination device, in sending the messagereporting the receipt of the virtual beacon signal, is intentionallyproviding false information since no such beacon signal was actuallyreceived. This miss-representation allows the device receiving themessage to act on the reported receipt of a beacon signal and obtaininformation from a device or module, e.g., a network device or a moduleon the wireless terminal, using the same interface and messaging used toobtain information used when actual beacon signals are received and areto be acted upon.

While the same message format and content may be used for reporting thereceipt of actual received beacon signals and virtual beacon signals, insome embodiments virtual beacon signal reporting messages include moreinformation than messages communicating the receipt of actual beaconsignals. The virtual beacon signal reporting message includes, in someembodiments, information indicating the wireless terminals positionrelative to the position of the virtual beacon transmitter. The positionmay be an angle to the virtual transmitter, direction and/or distance tothe virtual beacon transmitter.

It should be appreciated that virtual beacon transmitters, by theirvirtual nature, do not require the deployment of actual beacontransmitter hardware and because they do not transmit actual signals donot cause interference to other actual beacon transmitters. Thus,virtual beacon transmitters can correspond to wireless spectrum which islicensed and not available for actual beacon transmitters. In additionvirtual beacon transmitters can use transmission power levels whichexceed transmission power levels allowed by law in a given area but,given the virtual nature of the beacon signals are allowable since thepower levels do not correspond to actual transmissions. In addition,virtual beacon transmitters can be positioned at locations where itmight not be possible or desirable to deploy actual beacon transmitters.As a result of the wide range of locations, power levels, frequencybands and/or other characteristics that can be configured for a virtualbeacon signal and virtual beacon transmitter, virtual beacon signals cancover geographic regions and/or zones which might not be possible tocover with an actual beacon transmitter. For example, a virtual beacontransmitter might be indicated as being positioned at the center of acity at a vertical position 5000 feet high with a transmit power levelthat would result in a beacon transmission covering the entire city.While a physical transmitter with such characteristics might not bephysically or legally possible the methods and apparatus of the presentinvention allow for such a virtual beacon transmitter and for wirelessterminals to report the receipt of beacon signals from such a virtualbeacon transmitter based on their location and information about thevirtual beacon transmitter.

Significantly, from the wireless terminal perspective, the wirelessterminal is able to obtain information or services from devices,components, applications, etc. which respond to or act on reportedreceipt of beacon signals even when a signal may not have actually beenreceived. In fact, in some embodiments the wireless terminal reportingthe beacon signal lacks a receiver having the ability to receive thetype of beacon signal being reported as having been received. Forexample, a cell phone which lacks the ability to receive iBeacon signalsmay report the receipt of an iBeacon based on virtual beacon informationand the wireless terminal's known location.

In addition to a virtual beacon reception determination device storinglocation and transmit power for virtual beacon transmitters, in someembodiments, the virtual beacon reception determination device alsostores the same or similar information for actual beacon transmitters.The stored information may include information indicating whether thetransmitter is a real or virtual beacon transmitter. In some suchembodiments even when an actual beacon signal is not received from theknown actual beacon transmitter the virtual beacon receptiondetermination device will report a received beacon signal in the samemanner as it would for a virtual beacon signal. Thus, in someembodiments a virtual beacon reception determination device generatesphony received beacon signal reports for known actual transmitters inaddition to virtual beacon transmitters. Such an approach isparticularly useful when a device lacks a receiver capable of receivingbeacons of a particular type known to be transmitted in an area in whichthe wireless terminal is located and the wireless terminal desiresaccess to information being provided to devices which are actuallycapable of receiving the beacon signals.

Numerous variations on the above described methods and apparatus arepossible and remain within the scope of the present invention. Whilevarious embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, it shouldbe appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include the samefeatures and some of the features described above are not necessary forall embodiments. Numerous additional features, embodiments and benefitsof various embodiments are discussed in the detailed description whichfollows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary system, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary antenna patterns that may be used by anaccess point to transmit a plurality of different beacons using directedbeams which cover different corresponding areas.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary floor plan of an exemplary site, e.g.,store, including a plurality of different store areas/sections, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates various different merchandise sections of theexemplary store that have been tagged, e.g., by anadministrator/manager, for receiving beacons, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment where various differentmerchandise sections of the exemplary store are tagged, e.g., by anadministrator/manager by sending signals, using a mobile communicationsdevice, which trigger sending of beacons to the corresponding sections,in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating different exemplary beams coverageareas corresponding to different beams directed to the differentmerchandise sections of the store which were tagged.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary access point, e.g., sectorized Bluetoothbase station, capable of transmitting beacons in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing that FIG. 8 includes the combination ofFIGS. 8A and 8B which, in combination, show the steps of a beacon and/orzone configuration subroutine.

FIG. 8A is a first part of the flow chart of FIG. 8 .

FIG. 8B is a second part of the flow chart of FIG. 8 .

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing that FIG. 9 includes the combination ofFIGS. 9A and 9B which, in combination, show the steps of a virtualbeacon transmitter configuration subroutine.

FIG. 9A is a first part of the flow chart of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 9B is a second part of the flow chart of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary site management/beacon service serverin accordance with an exemplary embodiment which in addition tocontrolling base station beacon transmissions can and in someembodiments is used to perform zone correlation operations and serveinformation to wireless terminals reporting receipt of beaconscorresponding to zones.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary user device, e.g., wireless terminal(WT), desktop and/or laptop etc., implemented in accordance with someembodiments which is capable of acting as a control device and/ordetecting receipt of beacons and communicating the beacon informationeither to an internal zone correlation information or external zonecorrelation engine and of receiving information corresponding to zonesin response to detection of one or more beacons corresponding to a zone.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary zone correlation engine and associatedinformation database with the zone correlation engine being capable ofdetermining which zone a wireless terminal is located in based onreceived beacon information and updating RF path loss model parametersbased on received information.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary coverage area diagram where threedifferent base stations transmit beacons which can be detected at a zonecorresponding to the intersection of the overlapping probability surfaceof the three different base stations.

FIG. 14 illustrates a probability surface with different probabilitieswith respect to the base station transmitting beacon 1 with theprobability being the highest where detection of zone 1 is expected tooccur based on a comparison of the expected received signal strength inzone 1 to the various signal strength values that may be measured.

FIG. 15 is an illustration of how an attenuator such as a wall may belocated between a base station transmitting a beacon and a zone in whichthe beacon signal may be received subject to the attenuation caused bythe presence of the attenuator.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing computation of values used in a pathloss model based on received RSSI information.

FIG. 17 which includes the combination of FIGS. 17A and 17B illustratesan access point configuration subroutine in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 17A is a first part of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 17B is a second part of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 18 which comprises the combination of FIGS. 18A and 18B illustratesa method of operating an access point in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 18A is a first part of FIG. 18 .

FIG. 18B is a second part of FIG. 18 .

FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary beacon transmitter information databasein accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary communications system in accordancewith one exemplary embodiment in which virtual beacon signals maybeused.

FIG. 21 a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a wirelesscommunications device, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary communications device, e.g., wirelessterminal or a network node, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 23 is illustrates an exemplary communications method in accordancewith one embodiment.

FIG. 23A is a first part of the flowchart of FIG. 23 .

FIG. 23B is a second part of the flowchart of FIG. 23 .

FIG. 24 is an assembly of modules which may be included in an exemplarybase station, e.g., an access point of any one of the other figures, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 25 is an assembly of modules which may be include in an exemplaryzone correlation engine shown in any one of the other figures inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary system 100 implemented in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary system 100 supports generation,use and transmission of beacons communicating information to one or moredesired regions of interest, e.g., sections of one or more venues.

Exemplary system 100 includes one or more sites of interest, e.g.,stores, a communications network 112, and a sitemanagement/beacon/configuration and/or zone correlation server 120. Asshould be appreciated the configuration, management, zone correlationservices can be provided by one server 120 or distributed through aplurality of servers which operate together to provide the functionsprovided by the exemplary server 120. The server 120 maybe, andsometimes is, located in a network and is thus sometimes referred to asa cloud sever since the physical location of the server is not criticalto operation of the system even though the server 120 is normally notlocated at a customer site. However in some applications sever 120 maybe, and is, located at a customer side or office location. The one ormore sites of interest include store 1 102, . . . , store N 110. One ormore wireless terminals 504 maybe present at a store or other site andcan operate as a control device for configuring beacon signalstransmitted by access points, zones and/or virtual beacons as will bediscussed below. Wireless terminals may, and in various embodiments do,receive beacon signals and/or messages reporting the receipt of avirtual beacon signal and act on received beacon signal information. Thewireless terminals can, and sometimes do, provide information to anetwork device such as a server which includes a zone correlationinformation which can determine the location of the wireless device fromreceived signals, e.g., beacon signals reported to the zone correlationengine and which can and sometimes does return information, offersand/or store or sales position location information, corresponding to abeacon signal received by the WT or a zone in which the wirelessterminal is determined to be located. As can be seen in the figure,store 1 102 includes access point 1 130 and access point 2 132 whilestore N includes an access point N 136. Each of the access points 130,132, 136 has beam forming capability, e.g., capability of generatingbeams, that can be used to transmit one or more beacons. The beacons areused to communicate information, either directly via the contents of thebeacon or by correlating one or more identifiers in the transmittedbeacons to other information. The beacons are transmitted into regionsof the corresponding stores in accordance with the features of theinvention. Areas in the store may be defined in terms of the beaconsignals which are expected to be received in a particular area. Forexample, zones may be defined by arbitrary shapes anywhere in thecoverage area of the access points. In some embodiments each of theaccess points 130, 132, 136 is coupled to a backend server, e.g., sitemanagement/beacon service server 120, or other network device via awireless connection or a wired connection. The backend server may, andin some embodiments does, include a zone correlation engine and adatabase for mapping zones to tags.

In some embodiments the access points 130, 132, 136 are located orincorporated into ceiling light fixtures and/or placed adjacent to suchfixtures. In some embodiments the configuration and/or settings of eachof the access points can be controlled by an administrator via a devicewhich can communicate with the access points via the wireless connectionor a wired connection coupling the access points to such a device.Similarly, in some embodiments each of the access points 130, 132, 136can be controlled by the site management/beacon service server 120 whichcan communicate with the access points via the wireless connection or awired connection over the network 112. The communications network 112may be, e.g., a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network, satellite network,and/or internet.

The site management/beacon service server 120 is configured to controland/or configure the access points located at various sites to generatebeams conveying beacons communicating information, e.g., advertisementand/or other relevant information, to one or more regions of the storeintended to be covered by such beams. The site management/beacon serviceserver 120 includes a memory 122, a processor 124 and a networkinterface 126. In some embodiments the memory 122 includes store floorplan and/or marketing information 140, 142 corresponding to theplurality of stores 102 through 110 in the system. The sitemanagement/beacon service server 120 uses the stored floor plan and/ormarketing information 140, 142 to configure and/or control the accesspoints 130, 132, 136 to generate beacons communicating information,e.g., advertisements/promotions, to one or more targeted regions in thestores 102, 110 via beams covering these targeted regions. Theinformation and/or control signaling for controlling the access pointscan be communicated from the site management/beacon service server 120via the network interface which coupled the site management/beaconservice server 120, via the links 115, 117 to the access points and/orthe communications network of the stores 102, 110.

Methods and/or apparatus for generating, transmitting and/or usingwireless beacons are described. In various embodiments, rather than useindividual beacon transmitters for each region of an environment, e.g.,a store, office or other area, one or more access points withdirectional antenna beams are used. The beams of an access point, e.g.,base station, cover different geographic areas of the environment.Individual beams transmit one or more beacons. The beacons communicateinformation directly in the beacon or indirectly via one or moreidentifiers included in the beacon which map to information. The mappingto information may be a direct mapping with an identifier included inthe beacon corresponding directly to a corresponding piece ofinformation which can be retrieved via a database lookup or throughother techniques. Alternatively, the identifiers of one or more beaconsmay be associated with a zone and the receipt of the beaconscorresponding to a zone being used to determine the zone to which thereceived beacon or beacons correspond and then to obtain informationwhich corresponds to the zone, e.g., from a database including a mappingof zones to information. which can be identified and accessed based onthe identifier or identifiers included in the beacon. Thus, atransmitted beacon may include the information to be communicated orprovide a receiving device a value or other identifier which can be usedto retrieve information being communicated indirectly through a beaconto database look up or a beacon signal to zone mapping and than a zoneto information mapping operation.

In some but not all embodiments, a beacon communicates a major id whichmaps to first information and a minor identifier which maps to secondinformation where the information is known or accessible to a receivingdevice. A device receiving a beacon may recover the major and minoridentifiers in a received beacon and then do a lookup in a previouslystored or remotely accessible database to receiver the information beingcommunicated by the beacon by doing lookup of the received identifier tothe corresponding information.

While in some embodiments an individual beacons, e.g., transmitted usinga beam of a BTLE (Blue Tooth Low Energy) base station directlycommunicates information, relevant to the particular geographic area towhich the individual beam used to transmit the beacon corresponds, giventhat the beams are directional, they may cover an area extending over along distance, e.g., 50 feet, 60 feet or more. For some embodiments suchan area is larger than the area with which particular information is tobe associated. In one particular embodiment, different beacons aretransmitted on beams from different base stations. While each beamcovers a relatively large area, the zone where multiple beams overlapmay be far smaller than the total area of an individual beam.

By deploying multiple base stations with beam transmission capability,e.g. sectorized bases stations or base stations with steerable beams, anarea such as an interior floor area or inside of a stadium can becovered with overlapping beacons transmitted using directional beams.The area can be divided for purposes of providing information intoregions referred to herein as “zones”. While the number of base stationsmay be relatively small, the number of zones can be relatively highgiven that each base station may transmit using a plurality ofrelatively small beams and given that beam overlap may be used toprecisely determine location and/or define different zones.

In various embodiments each beacon communicates an identifier which canbe used to identify the transmitting base station and beam which wasused to transmit the beacon. A device receiving a beacon makes areceived signal strength measurement and generates an RSST (ReceivedSignal Strength Indicator) value indicating the strength of the receivedbeacon signal. A time stamp indicating the time of receipt of the beaconsignal is also generated. The RSSI value, time stamp indicating time ofreceipt, and information indicating the content of the beacon signal,e.g., one or more identifiers, is communicated to a zone correlationengine. Similar information is generated for each received beaconsignal. Thus, while a device is in area into which multiple beacons aretransmitted from different base stations, a wireless terminal mayreceive, measure and time stamp a plurality of beacon signals receivedon beams corresponding to different base stations.

The beacon information, signal measurements and time stamps for thereceived beacon signals are communicated to a zone correlation enginethat processes the received information and determines the location,e.g., zone, in which a wireless terminal is located at a particulartime.

The zone correlation engine provides the zone information to aninformation server which determines if there are one or more virtualtags stored for the zone. The virtual tags may be offers or otherinformation stored for the zone in which the wireless terminal isdetermined to be located in. The virtual tag may be configured based ona schedule with different offers and information being scheduled to beprovided for a zone based on different times and/or days of the week,e.g., based on a sale schedule or items which will be available in thezone at a particular time/day of the week.

In some embodiments, while a device detecting a beacon provides theidentifier(s) included in the beam to the zone correlation engine, whatis returned is not the information to which the identifier(s) directlymap to but rather the tag information for the zone in which the zonecorrelates determines the beacons indicate the wireless terminal islocated. In such an embodiment, while the beacons correspond to theinformation for the zone, there is not a direct one to one mapping insome cases between the beacon content and the returned information withthe information that is returned in some cases depending on the factthat multiple beacons were received by the wireless terminal and thereturned information depending on the receipt of multiple beaconsindicating a zone that is smaller than the area covered by a beam usedto transmit an individual beacon.

By using a tag information data base to map zones to information to bereturned to a device reporting the receipt of a set of beaconscorresponding to a zone, the identifiers transmitted in the beacon canbe left unchanged and used to identify the transmitting base station andbeam while the returned information provided in response to beaconidentifiers can be changed to reflect a schedule, sale, promotionsand/or other time varying constraints.

Because the returned information, in some but not necessarily allembodiments, corresponds to a zone which is defined by the intersectionof multiple beams from different base stations, the number and size ofzones can be relatively small and precise will the number of basestations used to transmit the beams can be keep relatively low.

To facilitate a consistent pattern of zones, base stations maybedeployed in a grid pattern in a ceiling or at other uniform spacing's ata site, e.g., on each wall of a hall or arena.

Thus, in at least some embodiments, the access points which supportmultiple distinct beams corresponding to different areas of anenvironment are ceiling or wall mounted. This allows a single accesspoint to cover multiple locations in a store or other environment withdifferent distinct beams. While ceiling mounting is preferred in manycases since often provides a relatively unobstructed path to multiplelocations as compared to a floor based transmitter, the methods andapparatus described herein are not limited to ceiling or wall mountedaccess points. While a single base station can be used in someembodiments, in many but not necessarily all embodiments, multiple basestations with beam capability are used.

Since the beams are used to provide geographic precision to facilitatelocation determination and to allow a longer range then might beachieved if an omni-directional antenna was used, in some embodiments asingle transmitter, e.g., transmitter chain, is time shared between thedifferent beams of a base station with transmission on a single beamoccurring at a given time in some such embodiments. Such an approachallows for low cost base station implementations since a separatetransmitter need not be provided for each sector/beam of the basestation. In other embodiments a separate transmitter is provided foreach sector/beam allowing multiple beams to be transmitted in parallel,e.g., at the same time, from a base station.

By using a single access point which can support multiple distinctbeams, transmitting multiple beacons associated with different areas ofa location is achieved in some embodiments. Thus, a single access pointcan replace the use of multiple individual beacon transmitters whichmight otherwise be required to cover the same number of distinctlocations.

By using multiple ones of such access points in combination, relativelysmall zones can be defined with a low number of base stations beingrequired.

The access points with beam forming capability which are used in variousembodiments may be coupled to a backend server or other network devicevia a wireless connection or a wired connection. In some embodiments,the access point uses a power line connection for both power and a dataconnection to the server or other network device. The access points ofthe present invention may be, and sometimes are, located or incorporatedinto ceiling light fixtures and/or placed adjacent to such fixtures.Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the access points of thepresent invention can be installed in ceiling tiles or other ceilingfixtures and obtain power by connecting to existing power lines such asthose already present in a ceiling for lighting purposes. Thus, in atleast some embodiments, the access points of the present invention arenot battery powered and thus maintenance and replacement costsassociated with battery usage can be avoided.

Given that a single beam forming access point of the present inventioncan cover a plurality of distinct regions with different beams tailoredin terms of content and/or shape to each of a plurality of individualregions, an access point of the present invention can be used in placeof a number of individual beacon transmitters that might otherwise berequired to cover the distinct regions in an environment which are to besupplied with beacons.

Once installed in an area, the access points can be controlled and/orconfigured in terms of the beams that are generated and/or theinformation transmitted using one or more beacons on an individual beam.Since beacons can be transmitted on a periodic or other recurring basisand need not be transmitted continuously, the number of transmittercircuits required to support the multiple beams can be, and in manyembodiments is, lower than the number of beams which are supported. Insuch a case transmitter and/or receiver circuits are used on a timeshared basis between multiple beams. Thus, the beam forming access pointof the present invention can use fewer transmitter circuits than wouldbe required if separate transmitters were used for each region coveredby a beam.

Use of access points beams and/or beam coverage can be controlled via anetwork connection to an access point or via wireless signals receivedat the access point, e.g., from a handheld device used to signal adesire to have a beacon transmission coverage of a particular geographicarea. Once beam coverage is configured, information associating beams ofan individual known access point with particular locations, e.g.,portions of a store, can be stored and used to determine information tobe communicated using one or more beacons transmitted to a particularregion. In other embodiments, the information transmitted on the beamsremains fixed and information in a data base which is accessed inresponse to detection of one or more beacons is updated to reflectinformation to be supplied in response to a device being located in azone corresponding to the one or more detected beacons.

For example, information associating different beams of an access pointor set of beams from a plurality of different access points which can beused to indicate a location, may be stored and known to correspond toparticular product displays in a store. Information associating aparticular access point beam or the intersection of beams from differentaccess points, with a particular store display may be stored in a serveralong with corresponding information about one or more products ondisplay at a given time. The access point can be signaled via thenetwork connection to the server to transmit a beacon communicatinginformation about the product currently on display at the locationcovered by the beacon. When the product on display is changed and/or acurrent promotion for the product changes and/or a new promotionemerges, the beacon may be changed via the network without having tophysically visit or access the access point used to transmit the beaconor, in embodiments where the beacons are left unchanged the informationin the database used to supply information corresponding to a zone maybe updated so that when beacons corresponding to the zone are detected,the current information is supplied to the wireless device in the zonereporting the detection of the corresponding beacons Thus, management ofbeacons corresponding to particular areas they serve can be easilymanaged from a remote location and, in cases of national or other storechains, can be remotely configured to broadcast informationcorresponding to weekly specials or other specials consistent withmarketing and the product which will be displayed at the location knownto correspond to a particular access point beam. For example, productdisplays at the ends of different store isles used to showcase weeklyspecials in a grocery store may correspond to different beams. Withknowledge of the product to be displayed at the end of each isle and theweekly promotion planned, a schedule can be developed so that beaconscommunicating the specials corresponding to the product on display atthe end of the isle at a given time will be broadcast via the accesspoint beam covering the individual end of isle display with thecorresponding product.

Various configuration techniques can be used to control the coveragearea of beams which may be used to transmit beacons into an environmentwhere an access point is positioned. A wide range of beam formingtechniques may be used by access points for purposes of generating beamswhich can be used to transmit beacons. For example switched beam formingwhere switching between fixed antennas occurs can be used, analog ordigital beam forming can also be used. In various embodiments acombination of beam forming techniques can and are used.

It should be appreciated that once a beam of an access point is known tocorrespond to a particular region, this information can be used as partof determining what information should be communicated over a beacontransmitted on a particular beam.

Determining what regions should be covered by access point beams and/ordetermining which beams of an access point cover a particular region ofan environment is an important management issue that can be, anddepending on the embodiment is, addressed using one or more differentapproaches.

In one embodiment, configuration involves use of information about thelocation of an access point in an environment and the transmittercapabilities of the access point. From this information it is possibleto determine what regions in an environment correspond to individualbeams which may be generated by an access point located in theenvironment. In order to facilitate determination of the coverage areaof beams of an access point, in one embodiment the access points includea compass and/or range detection device. The compass determines theorientation (e.g., relative North, South, East, West orientation) of theaccess point after installation. The range detection device included inthe access point measures the height from the floor. Using the heightfrom the floor, the orientation of the access point and informationabout the general location in the ceiling of an area which may bereadily determined at time of installation via a measurement or count ofceiling tiles used to determine the access points location relative toone or more walls, the coverage area of the beams which can be, andsometimes are, calculated. Measurements of signals transmitted by anaccess point detected by other access points in the area can, and insome embodiments are, used to determine relative spacing between accesspoints based on path loss measurements based on the strength of one ormore received signals at neighboring access points. While not critical,in some embodiments the access points are mounted in an array patternwith each access point being oriented in the same direction. The accesspoint spacing may be relatively uniform facilitating uniform coverage ofan area.

In one embodiment, access point beam configuration for transmissionpurposes is determined without an administrator having to be physicallypresent in the environment to indicate the region into which a beaconshould be transmitted. In one such embodiment, an administrator, whomaybe a store manager, marketing director and/or other user of thesystem can display a floor plan of the area into which one or morebeacons are to be transmitted. The user can then simply mark on thefloor plan, e.g., by touching a location on the screen corresponding tothe desired location of a beacon or by clicking on the area using amouse, to indicate the desire to transmit a beacon at the indicatedlocation. The user can assign a name to the beacon to be transmitted andeither at the time of designating the beacon or at a later time indicatethe information to be communicated using the beacon. For example, a usermay click or touch a displayed location corresponding to a tie rack toindicate a beacon is to be transmitted covering the indicated location,name the beacon, e.g., assignee the name tie rack to the beacon, andthen associate information to be communicated by the beacon to betransmitted, e.g., “Special 3 ties for $10”. The user can also indicatea schedule on which the beacon is to be transmitted, e.g., weekdays butnot weekends or on some schedule corresponding to a planned sale. A usermay do this for multiple different locations in a store or otherenvironment from a location at the store or remotely. Thus,configuration of beacons and information to be communicated to thebeacons can be performed from a corporate headquarters or otherlocation.

Rather than alter the transmission of beacons, the marking of a locationon a floor plan is used to indicate a desired zone location. The beaconswhich are transmitted into the zone may but need not be altered.Information is stored in a database which is to be provided to a userwhen a user device, e.g., wireless terminal, reports beacon signalsindicating that the user device is in the designated zone. Theinformation to be provided when a device is detected to be present in azone, e.g., based on reported RSSI information corresponding to receivedbeacon signals, may be referred to as a TAG. By associating differenttags with different zones, it is possible to control the informationthat will be supplied to a wireless terminal without having to alter thecontent of the beacon signals which are transmitted. In addition, sincea zone may be defined in terms of the intersection of the coverage areaof multiple beacon signals, or based on the location of the zone to oneor more beacon transmitters, a zone maybe smaller than the coverage areaof an individual beacon signal transmission or beam. The TAG informationto be provided may be advertising or offer information for an itemavailable in the zone. By designating Zones and associating tags withzones, offers and information may be changed by simply updating a tagdatabase without the need to changing the beacon transmissions. However,in cases where beacons may not already be transmitted into an areacorresponding to a zone, as part of configuring a Zone, one or more basestations maybe, and sometimes are, configured to transmit beacons intothe zone to facilitate the ability to use detected beacons to determinethe presence in the zone.

Based on beacon coverage area information, the server, e.g., systemconfiguring beacon transmissions from one or more access points,determines which access point beam or beams corresponds to the userindicated desired beam location and associates the beam or beams withthe beacon to be transmitted. The beacon will then be transmitted on theassociated beam in accordance with the user configured transmissionschedule or on a predetermined schedule. In this way beacon managementcan be done remotely without the need for the party configuring thebeacon transmissions to walk through the store and indicate while at thestore what beacons are to be transmitted or where the beacons are to betransmitted.

While access points may have beams which can cover all or the majorityof a store, in at least some cases signals will not be transmitted intoregions where beacons, e.g., used for advertising sale items and/or sitespecific offers, are not used to transmit signals when a user has notdesignated or specified that a beacon should be associated with thecorresponding area of the store or other environment. However, in manycases beacons will be transmitted into all or most of the area to becovered allowing for detection of devices in zones whether or not tagswith information to be provided are associated with an individual zone.

In addition to user devices detecting beacon transmissions, basestations, e.g., Access Points (APs) can monitor and report the detectionof signals from wireless terminals. In this way, for purposes ofdetecting the presence of a wireless terminal in a zone, signals fromwireless terminals can be used in addition to RSSI information relatingto signals detected by wireless terminals.

While beacons may not be transmitted into all regions of an environmentinto which transmission are possible in some embodiments, APs monitorfor signals form users and report detection of signals to a server orother central processing site. This allows movement of one or moreindividuals with a wireless device to be tracked as they move through astore or other environment. The path of the individual can be useful indetermining special offers to present to the user via wireless signalsand/or for determining future configuration of a store or other site.

While beacons, e.g., real or virtual beacons, may be designated on afloor plan by a user, in other embodiment a user such as a manager walksor otherwise moves through the store or other site with a mobilewireless device capable of transmitting signals to the one or moreaccess points and also being capable of receiving signals from theaccess points. If an access point is available to transmit into the areaon the floor plan designated to be covered by a beacon, the access pointwhich can transmit into the area maybe, and in some embodiments is,configured to transmit a beacon into the designated region.Alternatively a virtual beacon maybe configured to cover the area. Forexample if a access point is not available to transmit into the regionvirtual beacon transmitter information can be configured in a databaseand a wireless terminal or network device will determine, using thestored virtual beacon transmitter information and a device's location,when a device or element, e.g., application in a device, is to benotified that the device received a beacon even though no beacon wasactually received. In this way the report of the received beacon is of a“virtual” beacon but the device or element can act on the notificationof receipt of a beacon signal as if an actual beacon signal wasreceived.

The user, while in the environment to be covered by a beacon signal,positions a user device at a location to be covered by a beacon. Thenselects a set beacon option on the mobile device. The mobile device thentransmits a signal which is received by one or more access points in thevicinity, e.g., via antenna elements corresponding to different beams.The receiving access point(s) process signal strength measurements fromeach beam, creates a probability surface and then combines thosesurfaces to determine the devices location. Alternatively, signalstrength measurements are reported back to a server and then the serverdecides which beam has the best coverage of the area from which thesignal used to indicate a desired beacon location was transmitted. Inaddition to indicating a desire to have a beacon transmitted in theregion from which the beacon location designation signal wastransmitted, the signal transmitted to the access point or points mayindicate a name to be used for the beacon associated with the beaconlocation. For example when signaling that a beacon should be added tocover a region corresponding to a tie stand, the user sending, from thelocation of the tie stand, the request to add a beacon may enter thephrase “tie rack” to be associated with the location into which thebeacon is to be transmitted. The user can also signal to the accesspoint sale and/or other information to be communicated by the use of abeacon and/or the time period in which the beacon should be transmitted.Alternatively, such information can be associated with the beacon at alater time. The access point communicates to the beacon server thereceived request to create a beacon along with information identifyingthe beam on which the beacon is to be transmitted and/or received signalstrength information corresponding to different beams on which therequest was received thereby providing the server information sufficientto determine which beam should be used for the requested beacon. Theserver stores the beacon and corresponding beam information in adatabase which can be accessed and updated by a user. For example, theuser can associate sale information to be communicated via a beacon fora sale associated with the tie rack corresponding to the location of thenew beacon.

By moving through a store and/or other environment, and signaling placeswhere beacons are to be transmitted or a zone is to be placed, the usercan associate beacons with particular locations without having adetailed map of the store and/or without knowing before hand howindividual access point beams correspond to different areas of theenvironment. While the process of indicating where beacons are to betransmitted or where zones are to be defined within a geographic areamay be similar in some ways to a manager going through a location andplacing beacon transmitters at different places within the environment,the requirement that beacon transmitters be placed at individuallocations is avoided along with the associates costs of maintaininglarge numbers of individual beacon transmitters that are distributedthroughout a store, e.g., at ground level or on display racks.

It should be appreciated that the different methods of designatingbeacon and/or zone placement and coverage may be combined with somebeacons/zones being signaled via indications made on a floor plan andother beacons/zones being designated as a manager walks through a storeand indicates places to be covered by a beacon or where a zone is to bedefined. A zone definition may be achieved by reporting back beaconsdetected at the zone in which case in the future receipt of the samebeacons may indicate that a wireless terminal is in the zone defined aspart of the configuration process.

Significantly, multimode cell phones with beacon transmission capabilityor which can otherwise interact with the access points can be used tosignal the desired location of beacon coverage/zones and relatedinformation to be associated with an individual beacon transmissions orset of overlapping beacon transmissions.

Customer's and/or other individuals walking through the environment willreceive the beacons and be able to recover the information that iscommunicated using the beacons or which corresponds to a set of receivedbeacons, e.g., after reporting receipt of the beacons, time of receiptand received signal strength measurements to a zone correlation engineor other device capable of mapping received beacons to zones with whichinformation to be provided is associated. The information maybe includeddirectly in the beacon in some cases or may be recovered through adatabase lookup or from broadcast information which can be used to map avalue or other identifier received in a beacon to information which isto be communicated through use of the beacon. Thus beacons can be usedto communicate advertisements and/or other information directly orindirectly depending on the transmission standard and/or beacon protocolbeing used.

FIG. 2 is a drawing 200 illustrating an exemplary access point withmultiple antenna patterns, e.g., a pattern with multiple beams, that maybe selectively used by an access point (AP), e.g., AP 130. The patternshows the coverage area of the access point 130 if all the beams areused. Other antenna patterns are possible and in many cases may includelobes of different sizes or areas of significant attenuation.

The beams may be individually used to transmit different beacons intothe coverage areas corresponding to the beams. In some embodiments theaccess point 130 has beam forming capability, e.g., a beam formingantenna assembly, which can radiate beacon signals using one or morebeams. Each of the wedges 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 and 220shows a corresponding coverage area of a beam that may be transmitted bythe access point 130 to communicate beacons communicating information,e.g., advertisements. Each of the coverage areas 204, 206, 208, 210,212, 214,216, 218 and 220 may correspond to an area of a site ofinterest, e.g., a store, mall, food court etc. In accordance with thefeatures of the present invention the access point may, and in someembodiments does, transmit beacons communicating promotionaladvertisements and/or other marketing information relevant to a givenarea of a site/store, using directed beams which cover these store areasand enable devices within the coverage area of the beam to receive thebeacons.

While beacons may be transmitted using the beams, the AP can alsoreceive signals using the beams. Based on received signal energy and/orsignal to noise ratio (SNR) the AP 130 and/or a server, e.g., beaconservice server 120, receiving signal information from the AP candetermine the region from which a received signal was transmitted, e.g.,with the region being the one from which the strongest signal wasreceived.

FIG. 3 is a drawing 300 illustrating an exemplary floor plan of anexemplary site, e.g., store 102, including a plurality of differentstore areas/sections, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. As canbe seen in the floor plan of FIG. 3 , the store 102 includes variousareas that may be dedicated to a given category of merchandise/item.Near the top left corner in the floor plan there is an area/section witha COFFEE stand 302 and an adjacent a COOKIES stand 304 which may beoperated together or separately in close proximity in the store 102.More towards the upper central portion there is a store area/sectioncorresponding to PANTS 306, another area corresponding to BOOKS 308 andanother for SHOES section 310. On the other opposite side in the floorplan there is a store area/section corresponding to TIES 316, anothersection corresponding to SHIRTS 314 and then another store area/sectioncorresponding to SOCKS 312. As can be appreciated, each of the areaswith different merchandise/items is physically separated thus formingdifferent dedicated areas in the illustrated embodiment. While one suchfloor plan is shown as an example it should be appreciated that avariety of different floor plans or variation in the arrangement arepossible.

In some embodiments some related items may be grouped together in asingle area. For example, in some embodiments shoes and socks may begrouped together and be given a single dedicated area.

Also shown in FIG. 3 floor plan is the location of access points 130,132, which may be mounted on a ceiling or a wall or may be simply placedon another structure. In accordance with the features of someembodiments the different store areas/sections of the store may beprovided different beacons via beams communicated by the access points130, 132. The APs 130, 132 may use a directed beam covering acorresponding region to transmit one or more beacons communicatingadvertisement and/or other information, to one or more devices in thearea covered by the beam.

FIG. 4 is a drawing 400 illustrating various different merchandisesections of the exemplary store 130 that have been tagged (indicated bythe “X” mark in the figure), e.g., by an administrator/manager, forreceiving beacons in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. In someembodiments the tagging operation is performed by anadministrator/manager by selecting the different merchandise locationsusing a user device that displays a visual representation of the floorplan. For example a user device, e.g., desktop, laptop, smart phone,and/or a tablet device, that stores or has access to the floor plan, isused by the administrator/manager to view a visual representation of thefloor plan, e.g., the floor plan illustrated in FIG. 3 . In accordancewith the features of some embodiments the administrator/manager canselect one or more store areas which are to be provided beaconscommunicating promotion offers and/or other desired information. Theselection may be performed in some embodiments by, e.g., tapping on theparticular location on the displayed floor plan in an embodiment thatsupport a touch screen device and/or by simply selecting the locationfrom a drop down menu and/or by pointing and clicking on a locationusing a mouse. Thus it should be appreciated that the selection may bemade in a variety of ways. In various embodiments the selectioninformation as well information to be communicated by the beacons, e.g.,promotions/advertisements, is communicated from the user device on whichthe selection is made to the access points 130, 132 which uses theinformation to generate and transmit beams corresponding to the selectedareas. The access points 130, 132 further uses the received informationto select and/or generate information to be communicated in the beaconscommunicated via the beams. The administrator need not be present at theactual store site in order to tag the areas for receiving beacons andthe tagging selection can be done remotely, e.g., from an head officecorresponding to the store or retail chain. Alternatively in someembodiments the selection information and beacon information iscommunicated from the user device operated by the administrator to thebeacon service server 120 which in turn uses the received information tocontrol and/or configure the access points to generate and transmitbeams corresponding to the selected areas.

In some other embodiments, information associating different beams ofthe access points 130, 132 is stored, e.g., in the device used by theadministrator and/or at the beacon service server 120 and known tocorrespond to particular areas in the store. Information associating aparticular access point beam with a particular store area, e.g., areacorresponding to the BOOKS stand 308, may be stored in the user deviceused by the administrator and/or at the beacon service server 120 alongwith corresponding information about one or more products/items in thatarea on display at a given time. Thus in some embodiments APs areconfigured using information about the location of the APs in anenvironment, e.g., store 102, and the transmitter capabilities of theAPs. In such embodiments it is determined what regions/areas in thestore correspond to individual beams which may be generated by theaccess points located at the store. Based on this information that mapsregions/store areas to corresponding beams, the administrator deviceand/or the beacons service server 120, determines which access pointbeam or beams corresponds to the selected regions/areas on the floorplan and associates the beam or beams with the beacon to be transmitted.In some such embodiments the access points can simply be signaled via anetwork connection to the user device and/or the beacon service server120 to transmit a beacon communicating information about the productcurrently on display at the location covered by the beacon. In some suchembodiments when the product on display is changed and/or a currentpromotion for the product changes and/or a new promotion emerges, thebeacon information may be changed via the network without the administerhaving to physically visit or access the access points used to transmitthe beacons. Thus, in some embodiments the access points can beconfigured to transmit beacons corresponding to merchandise displayed atone or more locations in the store which are known to correspond torespective particular beams transmitted by the access points.

After the selection/tagging of area has been completed, the accesspoints can transmit beams covering the selected areas at a desired timewhich may be indicated by the administrator and/or based on a storedschedule.

In some embodiments the information that may be communicated by thebeacons include promotions, advertisements, special sales offers, menuitems, newly added items, wait times at a location, specificannouncement relating to an item or location, change in opening and/orclosing time, store closing announcements etc.

FIG. 5 is a drawing 500 illustrating another embodiment where variousdifferent merchandise sections of the exemplary store are designated tobe zones, e.g., by an administrator/manager walking through the storeand signaling where a zone is to be located. In one embodiment themanager sends a signal, using a mobile communications device, whichindicates to a server that the area from which the signal is sent shouldbe designated as a zone. A tag may then be associated with the zone. Inone embodiment the zone indicator signal triggers sending of one or morebeacons to the corresponding zone via one or more direction beams. Inanother embodiment, the zone is defined based on which beacon or beaconsshould be received at the location and, in some embodiments, theexpected strength of the received signals. In the case where a manageris present and signals that a zone should be placed at a particularlocation, the manager's device may measure and report on the beaconsignals received at the zone and the received signal strength, e.g.,received measured beacon signal power level for beacons received at thezone location. This information can be used in defining the zone but thesignals may be predicted in cases where signal measurements are not madeat the zone site.

In the illustrated embodiment shown in drawing 500 of FIG. 5 anadministrator/manager simply walks through the various sections of thestore where different merchandise is placed for display or where a zoneis to be designated for some reason. At the locations where theadministrator desires a zone to be located, the administrator can simplyuses his device, e.g., cell phone, tablet or other device, to send azone designation signal to the access points 130, 132 which thencommunicate the request to a control device. In some embodiments theaccess points receiving the zone request signal determines theregion/location from which the signal was transmitted and which transmitbeam covers that corresponding area. In some embodiments there is a oneto one mapping between transmit beam coverage areas and receiver beamcoverage areas so that a base station can readily determine whichtransmit beam corresponds to a zone based on which beam the zone requestsignal was received.

In other embodiments rather than having to visit the physical site atwhich zones are to be located, the zone definition/tagging operation isperformed by an administrator/manager by selecting the differentlocations at which zones are to be placed using a user device thatdisplays a visual representation of the floor plan. For example, a userdevice, e.g., desktop, laptop, smart phone, and/or a tablet device, thatstores or has access to the floor plan, is used by theadministrator/manager to view a visual representation of the floor plan,e.g., the floor plan illustrated in FIG. 3 . In accordance with thefeatures of some embodiments the administrator/manager can select one ormore store areas which are to be designated as zones for communicatingpromotion offers and/or other desired information. The selection may beperformed in some embodiments by, e.g., tapping on the particularlocation on the displayed floor plan in an embodiment that support atouch screen device and/or by simply selecting the location from adrop-down menu and/or by pointing and clicking on a location using amouse. A user may indicate the size of the zone by making a circlearound the designated zone location or through other input such asspreading of fingers in contact with a touch sensitive screen being usedto indicate the location of a zone. Thus, it should be appreciated thatthe selection may be made in a variety of ways. In various embodimentsthe selection information as well information to be communicated for thezone, e.g., promotions/advertisements, is communicated to a zonemanagement server or other device. The zone designation information canbe used to control access point transmission of beacons into the zoneand/or monitoring for the presence of a wireless terminal in the zone asmay be determined by a zone correlation engine. The administrator neednot be present at the actual store site in order to designate zones orspecify tag information to be provided when presence of a device in thezone is detected or which is to be communicated via the use of one ormore beacons transmitted into the zone.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating different exemplary beams coverageareas corresponding to different beams directed to the differentmerchandise sections of the store which were tagged. As can be seenvarious zones have been designated. Zone 6 corresponds to theoverlapping area corresponding to beams 609, 611 of the first and secondaccess points 130, 132 while other zones correspond to coverage areasassociated with an individual beam. Receipt of a beacon may be used by awireless terminal or correlation engine to determine that the wirelessterminal is in the coverage area of a particular beam. Signal strengthmay be further considered and used to determine if the wireless terminalis within a zone covered by a beam when the zone is smaller than thefull beam coverage area. When a zone is covered by multiple beams,beacons received on the different beams and their corresponding signalstrength than be used to determine presence of a wireless terminal in azone covered by the different beams. For example, presence in zone 6 maybe determined based on beacon signals received in beams 611, 609 andtheir signal strength. While receipt of signals via beams 611, 609 mayindicate presence in zone 6, detection of a relatively strong beaconsignal via beam 609 and a very weak beacon or no beacon received viabeam 611 will tend to indicate presence in zone 5.

As will be discussed below, the zone correlation engine used in variousembodiments uses reports of received beacons and the received signalstrength of the beacons to detected the presence of a wireless device ina zone and to trigger providing of tag information corresponding to thezone to the wireless terminal determined to be in the zone.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary access point 700, e.g., base station,capable of transmitting beacons on a plurality of different beams inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

The base station maybe, and in some embodiments is, a sectorizedBluetooth base station including a plurality of sectors, e.g., three,six or even more sectors depending on the embodiment. The wirelessinterface 704 includes a receiver 724 or 724′ and transmitter 726 or726′ for each sector. The base station antenna maybe formed fromelements corresponding to different sectors of the base station and thusin some embodiments is sectorized with different receive (725, 725′) andtransmit elements (727 or 727′) of the sectorized antenna being providedfor each sector. For example, receive sector antenna element 725 andtransmit sector antenna element 727 may correspond to a first sectorwhile receive sector antenna element 725 and transmit antenna element727′ may correspond to an Nth sector of the multi-sector base stationwith the combination of sector elements forming the sectorized antenna.The sector antenna elements 725, 725′, 727, 727′ may be mounted on thebase station or remote from the base station and oriented so thatdifferent sectors correspond to different geographic coverage regions.

In some embodiments base station 700 is a Bluetooth base stationcomprising a transmitter 729 in the form of the set of transmitterelements 726, 726′ which can be used to transmit into a plurality ofsectors of the base station. The base station 700 includes a pluralityof sector antenna elements 727, 727′; and at least one processor 706configured to control the transmitter 704 and transmitter elements 726,726′ included therein to communicate different information intodifferent geographic areas, corresponding to different sectors of thesectorized base station 700, by transmitting different Bluetooth LowEnergy (BLE) beacons on different transmission beams of said Bluetoothbase station, said different beams corresponding to different sets ofsector antenna elements, e.g., a first set including element 726 and asecond set including element 726′ but not element 726; and memory 712coupled to said at least one processor 706.

In some embodiments the base station 700 is an access point thatincludes a transmitter 729 at least one processor 706 configured tocontrol said transmitter 729 to transmit different beacons using a firstplurality of transmission beams corresponding to a first set ofdifferent coverage areas, e.g., corresponding to different sectors,where the processor 706 is configured transmit a first set of beaconsinto a first coverage area corresponding to a first beam communicatinginformation relevant to a zone in the first coverage area or mapping toinformation relevant to the zone in the first coverage area, as part ofbeing configured to transmit said different beacons; and memory 712coupled to said at least one processor 706.

The base station maybe, and in some embodiments is a ceiling or wallmounted device and, in some embodiments includes a compass 710 anddistance to ground measurement device 706 which can be used to determinethe orientation of the access point and height from the ground whendeployed. This information is measured and automatically reported to amanagement server which can then predict the coverage area of beamstransmitted by the access point 700.

The access point 700 includes a processor 706 and memory 712 coupledtogether via a bus 709 over which the various elements may interchangedata and information. Memory 712 includes routines 730 anddata/information 732. The access point 700 further includes a wiredinterface 702, a wireless interface 704 in addition to the compass 710and distance to ground measurement device 706.

Via the wired interface 702 the access point 700 can be coupled to thecommunications network, external device and/or internet. The interface702 in some embodiments includes receiver 720 and a transmitter 722. Thewired interface 702 is capable of transmitting/receiving informationover a wired link. In some embodiments the wired 702 is coupled to othernodes and/or a backhaul via a communications link. In some suchembodiments via the interface 702 the access point 700transmits/receives information to/from the network nodes such as theconfiguration server 120/1000. The access point 700 further includes awireless interface 704 via which the access point 700 communicates withwireless devices. The wireless interface 704 includes a wirelessreceiver module 724 coupled to receive antenna 725, via which the accesspoint 700 receives radio signals. The radio signals include, e.g.,signals from one or more wireless terminals or other wireless devices.The wireless interface 704 further includes a wireless transmitter 726coupled to transmit antenna 727 via which the device 700 transmits radiosignals. The transmitted radio signals include beacon signals. In someembodiments, the same antenna is used for both input and output wirelesscommunications signaling.

In some embodiments the access point 700 is a ceiling or wall mounteddevice and includes the compass 710 which is configured to determine theorientation of the access point or access point sectors relative to themagnetic north. The ground measurement device 706 is configured todetermine the height of the access point from the ground once the accesspoint 700 is deployed.

The processor 706 in various embodiments is configured to control theaccess point 700 to implement the methods of the present invention,e.g., method of flowchart 1800.

In one embodiment the access point is configured to receive, e.g., viathe receiver 724 or receiver 720, a first zone configuration controlsignal from a control device at a first location within the coveragearea of the access point, the first zone configuration control signalindicating a desire to designate an area from which the control signalwas transmitted, as the first zone. The access point is furtherconfigured to receive, e.g., via the receiver 724, information from thecontrol device indicating first beacon content to be communicated usingthe beacon signal to be transmitted using the beam covering the firstlocation. In some embodiments the access point 700 is further configuredto receive, e.g., via the receiver 724, information from the controldevice indicating a transmission schedule to be used to controltransmission of the first beacon content to be communicated using thebeacon signal to be transmitted using the beam covering the firstlocation. In some embodiments the access point 700 is configured toreceive, e.g., via the receiver 724, beacon information indicating afirst beacon signal to be transmitted into the first area using thefirst beam, and a time period or schedule used to control transmissionof the first beacon signal from the first access point. In someembodiments the processor 706 is configured to forward, e.g., via theinterface 702, at least some information relating to the first zoneand/or first beacon signal discussed above to a configuration server,e.g., such as the configuration server 120/1000.

In some embodiments the access point 700 is further configured toreceive, e.g., via the receiver 724, a second zone configuration controlsignal from the control device while the control device is located at asecond location within the coverage area of the first access point, thesecond zone configuration signal indicating a desire to designate asecond area as a second zone. In some embodiments the access point 700is further configured to receive, e.g., via the receiver 724,information from the control device indicating second beacon content tobe communicated using a second beacon signal to be transmitted using thebeam covering the second location and information indicatingtransmission schedule to be used to control transmission of the secondbeacon to be communicated using the beacon signal to be transmittedusing the second beam covering the second location. In some embodimentsthe processor 706 is further configured to forward, e.g., via theinterface 702, at least some information relating to the second zoneand/or second beacon signal discussed above to a configuration server,e.g., such as the configuration server 120/1000.

In some embodiments the access point 700 is configured to receive, e.g.,via the receiver 724 or 720, a user input identifying an area on a floorplan to be designated as the first zone. In some embodiments theprocessor 706 is further configured to control the access point 700 tostore (e.g., in memory 712 along with data/information 732) informationidentifying one or more beacon signals transmitted on beams covering thefirst zone. In some embodiments the processor 706 is further configuredto forward, e.g., via the interface 702, information identifying thearea on the floor plan to be designated as the first zone andinformation identifying one or more beacon signals transmitted on beamscovering the first zone at to the configuration server 120/1000.

In some embodiments the access point 700 is configured to receive, e.g.,via the receiver 720, access point configuration information from anetwork device, e.g., such as the configuration server 120/1000. As partof receiving the access point configuration information the access point700 is configured to receive, e.g., via the receiver 720, first accesspoint configuration information from the network device, the accesspoint configuration information providing first antenna patternconfiguration information specifying a first beam forming pattern to beused to generate the first beam, the first beam forming patternindicating antenna elements to be used to transmit signals correspondingto the first beam. In some embodiments the beam forming patterninformation further indicates antenna beam gains to be applied tosignals transmitted on at least some of the antenna elementscorresponding to the first beam. In some embodiments the access point700 is further configured to receive, e.g., via the receiver 720,additional first access point configuration information from the networkdevice, the additional first access point configuration informationproviding second antenna pattern configuration information specifying asecond beam forming pattern to be used to generate the second beam, thesecond beam forming pattern indicating antenna elements to be used totransmit signals corresponding to the second beam.

In various embodiments the processor 706 is configured to control theaccess point to configure one or more beacon transmission beams, e.g.,in accordance with the received configuration information and beaconinformation. The processor 706 in some embodiments is configured tocontrol the access point to configure the first beam to cover thegeographic area including the first location and to configure the secondbeam to cover the geographic area including the second location. Invarious embodiments the processor 706 is further configured to controlthe access point to transmit, e.g., via transmitter 726, differentbeacons, using a first plurality of transmission beams corresponding toa first set of different coverage areas. As part of controllingtransmission of different beacons, using a first plurality oftransmission beams corresponding to a first set of different coverageareas the processor 706 is further configured to control the accesspoint to transmit, via transmitter 726, a first set of beacons into afirst coverage area corresponding to a first beam communicatinginformation relevant to a first zone which is at least partially in thefirst coverage area or mapping to information relevant to the first zonearea. In some embodiments the processor 706 is further configured tocontrol the access point to transmit, via the transmitter 726,information corresponding to the beacon using at least two antennaelements, transmissions from the at least two antenna elements combiningin a pattern which forms the first beam, as part of transmitting firstset of beacons into a first coverage area. In some embodiments theprocessor 706 is further configured to control the access point totransmit, via the transmitter 726, a second set of beacons into a secondcoverage area corresponding to a second transmission beam, the first andsecond coverage areas being different, the second set of beaconscommunicating information relevant to a zone in the second coverage areaor mapping to information relevant to the zone in the second coveragearea. In some embodiments the access point is configured to receive,e.g., via the receiver 724 or receiver 720, beacon information, thebeacon information indicating a first beacon signal to be transmittedinto the first area using the first beam. In some embodiments the beaconinformation further indicates a time period or schedule used to controltransmission of the first beacon signal from the first access point. Insome embodiments the beacon information includes the schedule, theschedule corresponding to a product sale schedule for a productdisplayed in the coverage area of the first beam.

In some embodiments the first and second sets of beacons each includeone or more beacons. In some embodiments the first access point is asectorized access point and each beam corresponds to a different sectorof the access point. In some embodiments the first access point includesa first antenna element used for transmitting from the first accesspoint and the second sector includes a second antennal element used fortransmitting from the second access point.

In some embodiments the first beam communicates informationcorresponding to at least one product in a geographic area covered bythe first beam or maps to the information, the second beam communicatesinformation corresponding to at least one product in a geographic areacovered by the second beam or maps to the information. In someembodiments the first access point is a Bluetooth Low Energy and/oBluetooth Access Point and the first and second sets of beacons includeBLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacons.

FIG. 8 which comprises the combination of FIGS. 8A and 8B illustratesthe steps of a beacon and/or zone configuration subroutine 800 whichimplements an exemplary method. The method starts in step 802 with thecomponents, e.g., access points 130, 132, 136 and configuration server120, and one or more WTs 504 which can operate as control devices beingpowered on.

Operation proceeds from step 802 to steps 804 and 806 which can beperformed serially or in parallel. In step 804 one or more access points130, 132, 136 sense positional information, e.g., height from a surfacesuch as ground or floor beneath the access point, magnetic orientationof the access point and/or signals from nearby devices, e.g., accesspoints within the reception range of the reporting access point. Theheight may be, and in some embodiments is, measured by a distance sensorin the access point which measures the AP's height. The orientation maybe and in some embodiments is measured by a built in compass included inthe reporting AP. Signal information may be measured by a wirelessreceiver which receives and measures signaling transmitted byneighboring APs. The signal strength of a received signal is measuredand reported along with an indication of which sectorized antenna thesignal was received along with an access point (AP) identifieridentifying the received signal. Thus, from the measurements made andreported in step 804 it is possible to determine from the reportedinformation the APs neighboring the reporting AP, the neighbor'sposition relative to the reporting AP as indicated by the information asto which sector received the signal, the APs height from the ground andthe APs orientation which can be combined with known information aboutthe APs sectorized antenna arrangement relative to the reported compassorientation. Strength of received signals from other APs can be used toestimate the distance between the reporting AP and the AP from which asignal was received. GPS determined location information, e.g.,determined using a GPS circuit in an AP, or other AP locationinformation may also be communicated to the configuration server, whenavailable, which can then use the reported information Thus, based onthe information communicated in step 804, which may be communicated tothe configuration server 120 from multiple APs 130, 132, 136, theconfiguration server is able to determine the locations and coverageareas corresponding to multiple APs which can be located at the same ordifferent locations, e.g., stores.

While AP placement and orientation information can be automaticallycollected and reported in step 804, such information can also be enteredmanually, e.g., by a installer, using a WT 504 or other communicationsdevice which can transmit such information through an access point orother node to the configuration server 120. Thus, all or some of theinformation obtained in step 804 maybe manually entered and reported tothe configuration server in step 806. In such a case received signalstrength may not be reported for neighboring APs but the communicatedinformation may, and sometimes does, identify APs and indicate theirrelative spacing and orientation at a site such as a store or otherlocation which maybe identified via GPS coordinates, street address orusing other information. In step 806 user input is received indicatingaccess point location information and/or other configuration informationsuch as sector orientation, adjacent access point information, etc. Thisinformation which can be received at a WT 504 or other device iscommunicated, e.g., via an AP 130 or 132 to the configuration server 120which can then use the information in configuration beacon transmissioncontrol information and/or zones which may be defined based on AP beacontransmission coverage areas.

Operation proceeds from steps 804 and 806 to steps 808 which involvesconfiguration server 120 operation with the configuration serverreceiving access point location information and other access pointinformation, e.g., the information communicated in steps 804 and 806,for one or more access points. Step 820 includes steps 810 and/or step812.

In step 810 the configuration server 120 receives information, e.g.,sensed information, from access point(s) indicating location which mayinclude height and/or GPS obtained position information and sectororientation information, information regarding detected signals fromother access points which can allow for determination of access pointspacing and/or relative orientation of access points and their sectorantennas. In step 812, the configuration server receives user inputindicating location of access points as well as orientation and/orspacing as well as other information which may be provided in step 806.

Since AP information is received, by the time step 808 has beencompleted, the configuration server 120 knows where APs are located andhas sufficient information to determine sector orientation. From thisinformation, coverage areas for access points and individual sectortransmitters, e.g., sector antennas, included in the access points canbe determined allowing the configuration server to determine whichaccess points can transmit beacons covering different portions of astore or other location.

Operation proceeds from step 808 to step 816 via connecting node 814which is part of FIG. 8B which includes the set of steps 801. In step816 information indicating the desired location of one or more beaconsis received. In some embodiments in step 816 user input indicating adesired beacon coverage area location and optionally a desired transmitpower level is received. Additional information may include a zone to beassociated with a beacon coverage area and/or desired beacon transmitpower level information. Other information can include a beacon IDand/or information to be transmitted as part of the beacon. A user canindicate a desired beacon coverage area by indicating an area on a map,e.g., displayed on WT 504 or another control device, and providing theassociated zone and beacon ID information as well as optimally atransmit schedule. The WT 504 can transmit this information to theconfiguration sever 120 which can process it and determine what accesspoints, if any, can be used to transmit a beacon covering the indicatedarea. Alternatively, a user can transmit a signal indicating a desire tohave the area from which the signal is transmitted covered by a beaconsignal. The AP receiving the signal can determine the location of thearea to be covered based on which sector received the signal and signalstrength information. The area to be covered maybe assumed to be of apredetermined size surrounding the location of the device whichtransmitted the signal indicating the desired beacon coverage areaand/or of a size specified by the user of the device which transmittedthe beacon coverage request signal. Zone information, transmissionschedule, and/or other information can also be communicated regardingthe desired beacon signal. In step 116, the user input may be receivedvia one or more APs which received the information or signal indicatinga desire to establish a beacon coverage area from a WT 504 or anothercontrol device.

In step 818 the configuration server 120 determines based on thereceived beacon coverage area information obtained in step 816 if one ormore access points are available for configuration to transmit one ormore beacon signals into the desired coverage area. This decision maybebased on consulting the access point location and sector orientationinformation to determine if the APs known to the configuration server120 can support actual beacon transmissions into the desired coveragearea. If an access point is not available for transmitting into thedesired beacon overage area, operation proceeds from step 818 to step822 wherein a virtual beacon transmitter is configured to providecoverage without the use of an actual transmitter. If however in step818 it is determined that one or more actual beacon transmitters isavailable for transmitting a beacon or beacons into the desired beaconcoverage area, operation proceeds from step 818 to step 820. In step 820a check is made as to whether a desired beacon transmit power wasspecified. If a desired beacon transmit power was specified operationproceeds directly to step 822 otherwise operation proceeds to step 821.In step 821 a beacon transmit power is determined, e.g., based on thelocation of the beacon coverage area and location of the access pointbeacon transmitter or transmitters that can transmit into the desiredcoverage area. The beacon transmitter may be a transmitter correspondingto a sector of an access point which can transmit a beacon covering thedesired coverage area. The transmit power level may be determined as afunction of the location of the beacon transmitter and desired beaconcoverage area with the transmit power being determined to be a levelsufficient for a transmitted beacon to cover the desired coverage areain the case where coverage of the entire area is possible using a singlebeacon signal.

With the beacon transmission power needed known from user input or thedetermination made in step 821 operation proceeds to step 822. In step822 a determination is made if the access point or points to transmitthe beacon or beacons to cover the desired area can transmit at thepower level to be used to cover the area. If the access point or pointscan transmit at the required power level, operation proceeds from step822 to step 824 wherein one or more actual access points are configuredby the configuration server 120. If the access point or points can nottransmit at the required power level or levels, meaning configuration ofan actual access point to achieve the desired beacon coverage is notpossible operation proceeds to step 822 which is a call to a virtualbeacon configuration subroutine. While configuration of real or virtualbeacons is shown in FIG. 8 as alternatives in some embodiments for eachreal beacon transmission that is configured a virtual beacon is alsoconfigured. This is represented by dashed arrow leading from the inputof step 824 to the input of step 822. The configuration of a virtualbeacon corresponding as well as a real beacon for the same coverage areaallows a device which is not capable of receiving an actual beacon,e.g., because it lacks a receiver capable of receiving the transmittedreal beacon, from determining that it should have received a beacon orreceiving a message indicating receipt of a beacon. This indication ofreceipt of a “virtual beacon” allows the device to act as if a realbeacon had been received.

Operation is seen in FIG. 8 progressing from steps 822 and 824 to steps804 and 806 via go to step 825. This is to show that additionalconfiguration information maybe received on an ongoing basis as itbecomes available, and the information will be processed and used as itbecomes available. Thus, multiple passes through the steps of the methodshown in FIG. 8 may occur over times as access node and/or configurationinformation is received and processed.

Having described various aspects with regard to the receipt of accesspoint information and desired beacon coverage area information, anexemplary virtual beacon transmitter configuration subroutine 900 shownin FIG. 9 , which comprises the combination of FIGS. 9A and 9B will nowbe discussed. The steps of the virtual beacon transmitter configurationsubroutine 900, which starts in step 902, maybe, and in some embodimentsis, performed by the configuration server 120.

Operation proceeds from start step 902 to step 904 in which a beacontransmitter ID is assigned for a virtual beacon transmitter to bedesignated as transmitting into a coverage area to be covered by avirtual beacon signal. The virtual beacon signal will be indicated asbeing transmitted from a transmitter located at an access point locationindicated by someone entering such information or which was determinedbased on a signal received from a control device, e.g., WT 504. Thevirtual beacon transmitter may, and in some embodiments does, have thesame format and form as an actual access point identifier or otheridentifier used to identify a real beacon transmitter. Thus, step 904may and sometimes does include assigning an access point identifier,e.g., a base station identifier or SSID, to a virtual transmitter. Thevirtual transmitter ID assigned in step 904 can then be used in thesystem as if it identified an actual transmitter. Operation proceedsfrom step 904 to step 906. In step 906 one or more beacon IDs isassigned to the beacon signal to be considered as being transmitted bythe virtual beacon transmitter identified in step 904. The beacon IDassigned in step 906 may have the same form and content of actual beaconsignals which are transmitted by access points. Thus, the beaconidentifier or identifiers assigned in step 908 can be used in the samemanner as actual beacon identifiers and can be located into databases ormemory with beacon identifiers corresponding to real beacon signalswithout have to indicate that the beacon ID corresponds to a virtualbeacon signal which may not actually be transmitted,

Operation proceeds from step 906 to step 908 where a check is made as towhether a transmit power to be used was specified. If a transmit powerwas not specified in received beacon information operation proceeds tostep 910 in which a transmit power required to cover the intended beaconsignal coverage area is determined. This step may, and in someembodiments does, involve use of a path loss model which takes intoconsideration location of the virtual beacon transmitter and,optionally, the frequency to which the virtual beacon transmissioncorresponds, to determine the amount of transmit power that will berequired to cover the desired beacon coverage area. Virtual beacontransmitter characteristics may also be taken into consideration where,for example, the virtual beacon transmitter is considered to be a sectorof a base station with a direction antenna.

Operation proceeds from transmit power determination step 910 to step912. Operation proceeds directly from step 908 to step 912 if a beacontransmit power was specified in the received information avoiding theneed for the transmit power determination of step 910. In step 912 thedetermined or indicated transmit power is associated, e.g., stored in aninformation database, with the assigned beacon transmitter ID andvirtual beacon identifier or identifiers corresponding to the virtualbeacon being configured. See for example FIG. 19 which shows anexemplary beacon transmitter and signal information data base where onerow corresponds to a beacon signal and includes information which can bepopulated by the method of FIG. 9 . In step 912 in addition to transmitpower a frequency band and/or type of beacon signal can and sometimes isassociated with the virtual beacon signal. For example, the virtualbeacon signal may be specified to be a WiFi beacon signal correspondingto a frequency band F4 as shown in exemplary row 1926 of FIG. 19 .

Operation proceeds from step 912 to step 914. In step 914 adetermination is made as to whether a zone has been indicated as beingassociated with the beacon signal coverage area for which the virtualbeacon is being established. If a zone was specified in the receivedinformation the virtual beacon and corresponding beacon transmitter isassociated with the specified zone. Thus, when a WT or other devicedetermines or receives a message indicating receipt of the virtualbeacon, a determination can be made that the WT is within thecorresponding zone. See for example column 1917 which indicates the Zonecorresponding to the beacon signal of the row to which the Zoneinformation corresponds. Operation proceeds from step 916 to step 922.

If in step 914 it is determined that no zone was specified to beassociated with the desired beacon signal coverage operation proceedsfrom step 914 to step 918 in which a new zone corresponding to thecoverage age of the virtual beacon signal is created and assigned a zoneidentifier. The virtual beacon signal being transmitted into the desiredbeacon coverage area is then associated with the zone so that there is amapping between the virtual beacon signal and its contents, e.g.,assigned beacon identifier and/or other information and the newlycreated zone.

Operation proceeds from step 920 to step 922. In step 922 as set ofbeacon information such as that shown in FIG. 19 , is updated to includethe information corresponding to the virtual beacon signal beingcreated. This may involve adding a row to the set of information in FIG.19 corresponding to the new virtual beacon transmitter and virtualbeacon signal. For example, memory and/or a database storing theinformation shown in FIG. 19 maybe updated to include the contents ofrow 1926 which corresponds to a virtual WiFi beacon signal correspondingto zone 4.

Once the beacon transmitter, signal content information including beaconID and/or other information and other information corresponding to thevirtual beacon signal being configured to cover a desired beaconcoverage area has been updated and/or stored, the information is thenpropagated to devices which use the virtual beacon information. Thedevices to which the beacon information is propagated, e.g., table 1900shown in FIG. 19 , include, e.g., WTs 504, the server operating as thezone correlation engine, if it is not part of the same server as theserver which configured and stored the virtual beacon information andother devices such as location determination servers, etc. which may useor rely on reports of received beacon signals to provide services,alerts, and/or information.

Operation proceeds from step 924 to step 928 via connecting node C 926.In step 928 at least some of the information regarding virtual beaconsignals is loaded into nodes, e.g., communications nodes in the network,which receive beacon signal reports and use reported beacon signalinformation or provide information in response to a report of a receivedbeacon signal. Thus, the information in not only provided to nodes whichdetermine if a virtual beacon signal is to be deemed to have beenreceived but nodes which use beacon receipt and related information toprovide other information or to take actions, e.g., based on thelocation of a transmitter which is known to have “transmitted” areported beacon signal. In the case of a reported virtual beacon signalit will deem to have been transmitted from the location and at the powerlevel indicated in the information loaded into one or more devicesallowing them to treat reports of virtual beacon signals in the same waythey use reports of actual received beacon signals.

With the information corresponding to a virtual beacon signal havingbeen distributed to one or more devices and stored in the devices, e.g.,in memory or long term storage, configuration of the virtual beacon iscomplete and operation returns via step 930 to the routine which madethe call to the virtual beacon transmitter subroutine 902.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary site management/beacon service server1000 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment which in addition tocontrolling base station beacon transmissions can and in someembodiments is used to perform zone correlation operations and serveinformation to wireless terminals reporting receipt of beaconscorresponding to zones. The exemplary site management/beacon serviceserver 1000 is also referred to as the beacon information and/orconfiguration server. In some embodiments the management/beacon serviceserver 1000 is a node in the core network. In some embodiments theconfiguration server 1000 is configured to implement the methods offlowcharts 800, 900, and 1700 to control the operation of the server1000 in accordance with the invention.

The server 1000 includes a processor 1008 and memory 1012 coupledtogether via a bus 1009 over which the various elements may interchangedata and information. Memory 1012 includes various routines, modules anddata/information which are used to control the operation of the server1000 in accordance with the invention.

The server 1000 further includes an input device 1004, an input/output(I/O) interface 1006, and a network interface 1014 in addition to theprocessor 1008 and memory 1012. The various elements are coupledtogether via bus 1009 over which they exchange signals/information.

The input device 1004 may include one or more devices via which inputcan be provided to the server 1000 such as a keypad, a microphone forvoice input, a touchpad etc. Via the T/0 interface 1006 theconfiguration server 1000 can be coupled to one or more externaldevices. Via the network interface 1014 the configuration server 1000 iscoupled to the communications network, e.g., network 112. Via thenetwork interface 1014, the configuration server 1000 can exchangesignals and/or information with other nodes and devices of the systemsuch as the access points via the network 112. The interface 1014supports the receipt and/or transmission of signals and/or informationfrom/to different devices. To support the receipt and transmission ofinformation, the interface 1014 includes a receiver and transmitter.

To control the server 1000, the processor 1008 uses information and/orroutines including instructions stored in memory 1012. Routines 1020include communications routines and control routines. In addition to thecontrol routines 1020 the memory 1012 includes virtual beacontransmitter configuration subroutine 1051, zone correlation enginemodule 1021, and access point configuration subroutine 1053. Thedata/information stored in memory 1012 includes zone data/information1023, access point (AP) configuration information 1031 and storeinformation corresponding to a plurality of stores including store!information 1030, . . . , store N information 1032. The processor 706in various embodiments is configured to control the configuration server1000 to implement the methods of flowchart 800, 900, and 1700.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary user device 1100, e.g., a cell phone,desktop and/or laptop etc., implemented in accordance with someembodiments which is capable of detecting receipt of beacons andcommunicating the beacon information either to an internal zonecorrelation engine 1111 or external zone correlation engine 1021 and ofreceiving information corresponding to zones in response to detection ofone or more beacons corresponding to a zone.

The user device 1100, includes a processor 1106 and memory 1112 coupledtogether via a bus 1109 over which the various elements may interchangedata and information. Memory 1112 includes routines 1130 anddata/information 1132. The user device 1100 further includes a wiredinterface 1102, a wireless interface 1104, a display 1108, an inputdevice 1110, and a zone correlation engine 1111. In some embodiments thezone correlation engine 1111 is included in processor 1106. In someembodiments the memory 1112 includes a zone correlation engine 1131implemented as a module within the memory 1112. In some embodiments oneor more modules of the user device 1100 are, implemented fully inhardware within the processor 1106, e.g., as individual circuits. Inother embodiments some of the modules are implemented, e.g., ascircuits, within the processor 1106 with other modules beingimplemented, e.g., as circuits, external to and coupled to theprocessor. Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits, allor some of the modules may be implemented in software and stored in thememory 1112 of the device 1100 with the modules controlling operation ofthe user device 1100 to implement the functions corresponding to themodules when the modules are executed by a processor, e.g., processor1106.

Via the wired interface 1102 the user device 1100 can be coupled to acommunications network and/or external device using a wired link. Theinterface 1102 in some embodiments includes receiver 1120 and atransmitter 1122. In addition to receiver 1120 and a transmitter 1122the interface 1102 in some embodiments further includes an opticalinterface and/or a power line interface for communicating with variousdevices and system elements. The wired interface 1102 is capable oftransmitting/receiving information over a wired link. In someembodiments the wired and 1102 is one of an Ethernet interface or USBinterface.

The user device 1100 further includes a wireless interface 1104 viawhich the users device 1100 communicates with wireless devices. Thewireless interface 1104 includes a wireless receiver module 1124 coupledto receive antenna 1125, via which the user device 1100 receives radiosignals. The radio signals include, e.g., beacon signals. The wirelessinterface 1104 further includes a wireless transmitter 1126 coupled totransmit antenna 1127 via which the device 1100 transmits radio signals.In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for both input and outputwireless communications signaling. In some embodiments the wirelessinterface 1104 is a WAN (wide area network) radio module. In someembodiments the wireless interface 2204 includes a plurality of wirelesstransmitter/receiver modules capable of transmitting and receivingvariety of wireless signals, e.g., WiFi signals, LTE direct beaconsignals, iBeacons, Bluetooth beacons etc. Various other types of radiomodules may be used in the wireless interface in some embodiments. Thus,in some embodiments, the different radio modules in the wirelessinterface correspond to different communications technologies, differentcommunications protocols and/or different frequency bands. While avariety of radio modules may be used in the user device 1100 in someembodiments, in accordance with one aspect of the invention even whenthe user device 1100 does not actually include a particular type ofwireless receiver which would otherwise be needed to receive theparticular type of beacon signal, it can still claim to have received abeacon (e.g., virtual beacon signal). The receivers included in theinterfaces 1102, 1104 are configured to receive signals (e.g., controlsignals, beacon signals etc.) and process them to recover informationand/or data communicated in a received signal.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary zone correlation engine 1200 andassociated information database with the zone correlation engine beingcapable of determining which zone a wireless terminal is located inbased on received beacon information and updating RF path loss modelparameters based on received information.

As shown in FIG. 12 , the zone correlation engine 1200 receives as inputRSSI information from one or more wireless terminals along withinformation identifying the beacon signal to which the RSSI informationcorresponds and the time at which the beacon signal was received. Thus,the zone correlation engine 1200 is made aware of beacon signalsreceived by a wireless terminal during a given time period and thestrength of the signals that were received. The RSSI information may bein the form of a received signal strength, e.g., received power,measurement value. Based on the beacon signal information the zonecorrelation engine 1200 can determine which base station and beam wasused to transmit a particular received beacon and can use beam location,zone location and signal strength information to produce a probabilitysurface reflecting the probability that the receiving wireless terminalis at a location corresponding to one or more zones.

The RSSI and beacon information is applied to RF models used ingenerating probability surfaces reflecting the probability that thewireless terminal is located in a zone covered by a beam. For a givenreported RSSI value a probability surface is determined by RF modelingengine 1206 for the beam on which the received beacon signal wastransmitted. The probability surface indicates probabilities along thesurface corresponding to the beam that the RSSI value corresponds to aparticular zone or zones. For each reported RSSI value a probabilitysurface is determined. The determined probability surfaces are thencombined by a combiner 1207 which is used to determine a location of apeak in the probability surface resulting from combining the individualprobability surfaces. Based on the peak of the combined probabilitysurfaces, e.g., the area indicative of maximum overlap of the value ofthe individual probability surfaces, a peak analyzer 1208 determines thelocation of the wireless terminal, e.g., which zone, if any, thewireless terminal is located in. The location estimate is provided to azone based tag information database which provides informationcorresponding to the zone in which the wireless terminal is located. Theinformation corresponds to what is called a TAG for the location. Theinformation output by the database 1114 is provided to the processor ofthe wireless terminal. Thus, while the wireless terminal reports receiptof beacon signals in the FIG. 13 embodiment the returned informationmaps to the zone which the received beacon signals indicate the wirelessterminal is located in.

While the lower portion of the zone correlation engine determines devicelocation for purposes of retrieving information corresponding to a zonein which the wireless terminal is located. The upper set of elements1206′, 1207′, 1208′, 1209, 1211 and 1213 related to RF parameter moduleupdating based on received RSSI information.

Elements 1206′, 1207′ and 1208′ operate in the same or similar manner aselements 1206, 1207, 1208 but may operate at a higher rate withdifferent parameter values being used by the RF module engine 1206during different iterations using the same set of beacon RSSI signalinputs. The parameter optimizer 1209 may alter one or both of the pathloss parameter and intercept used in the RF module implemented by RFmodule engine 1206′ with the output of the peak analyzer being providedto the parameter optimizer to determine if a change in the parameter orparameters has increased the maximum peak achieved by combining theprobability surfaces as performed by combiner 1207′. In increase in thecombined peak indicates that the change in parameters has increased thequality of the combined result and thus reflects an improvement in theaccuracy of the RF model parameters. Decision step 1211 decides based onthe output of the peak analyzer where an improvement in the achievedpeak has been obtained which would merit replacing of the parametersused in the RF module engine 1206 with the updated parameters output bythe parameters optimizer. If a decision is made in step 1211 to updatethe model parameters, the updated model parameters are supple dot the RFmodule 1206 however if in step 1213 the decision is not to use updatedmodel parameters operation of the RF model engine 1206 continues withthe parameters that have been in use by the engine 1206 as indicated bystep 1213.

In some embodiments the update loop may operate at a rate much fasterthan the lower location determination path so that multiple differentparameters values can be tested in the same amount of time the lowerpath makes a single location determination. However, the relative ratesof the module update path to the normal location estimation path is notcritical.

It is worthy to note that in some embodiments while the RF modelimplemented by engine 1206 starts out using model parameters which arenot based on measurements made at the area where the wireless terminalmay be located, over time as RSSI values are reported the parametervalues are updated and refined based on the received RSSI valueproviding a self learning approach which can be used to update andrefine the model parameters for a particular location from which RSSIinformation is received.

While the above discussion relates to a first approach of RF modelingthat is used in embodiments, another approach that can be used in someembodiments will now be discussed. In the second approach, first eachlocation is determined using a set of beams, e.g., received beacons. Letus denote B to be the collection of the set of beacons transmitted onbeams used to determine location estimates. Each set of beams in thecollection yields a location estimate based on the beacon that is orcould be received corresponding to the beam, by combining theprobability surfaces generated from a PLE and intercept, to generate ahighest probability.

In one implementation, for each set of beams in B the “machine learning”process iterates through intercept and PLE values. The per beamprobability surfaces are generated and combined to create a locationestimate based on a received beacon signal strength. Each beam has aprobability at the location estimate. The highest probability in thesurface given only the beam and RSSI of the received beacon signal isdetermined. The ratio of the highest probability divided by theprobability at the location estimate yields a per beam error term. Theper beam error terms are summed for all beams that contributed to thesingle location estimate, and the attempted PLE/intercept value.

The error terms of all attempted locations are summed for eachPLE/Intercept value, yielding a table of PLE/Intercept error terms. EachPLE/Intercept error term is generated from the same collection of beams.The PLE and intercept with the lowest error term is identified as thatPLE and intercept that yield the most accurate location estimates.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary coverage area diagram 1300 where threedifferent base stations 1314, 1316, 1318 transmit beacons which can bedetected at a zone (Zone 1 1308) corresponding to the intersection ofthe overlapping coverage areas of the three different base stations.

A probability surface applicable to the environment shown in FIG. 13with different probabilities with respect to the base stationtransmitting beacon 1 can and in some embodiments is created with theprobability being the highest where detection of zone 1 is expected tooccur based on a comparison of the expected received signal strength inzone 1 to the various signal strength values that may be measured.

FIG. 14 illustrates a pattern 1400 of probability values 1404 (0.1),1406 (0.2), 1408 (0.4), 1410 (0.2), 1412 (0.1). The different probablyvalues indicate a probability that a device which receives a beaconsignal from beacon transmitter 1314 and measures a received signalstrength (RSSI) corresponding to a point on the line 1402 is in Zone 1.RSSI values decrease in the direction of the arrow on line 1402 asdistance from the transmitter 1314 increases. The received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) corresponds to distance with the RSSIdecreasing the further away a receiver is from the beacon transmitter1314 as the signal strength decreases the further away a receivingdevice is from the transmitter 1314. When a received beacon signal has areceived signal strength corresponding to the expected RSSI for thedistance Zone 1 as indicated by box 1403 from the beacon transmitter1314, the probability that the receiving device is in Zone 1 will be 0.4

FIG. 14 may be considered to be a probability surface for differentdistances from Beacon 1 transmitter 1400 with regard to the probabilityof a device receiving a beacon signal having RSSI on line 1402 being inZone 1. Similar probability surfaces may be generated for Beacontransmitter 2 1316 and beacon transmitter 3 1318.

By considering the probabilities that a device determines for each ofthe individual transmitters, an overall probability that a devicereceiving beacon signals 1, 2 and 3 is in Zone 1 can be generated bycombining the probabilities obtained based on received RSS is forbeacons 1, 2 and 3 from the corresponding probability surfaces thatindicate for a given RSSI the probability that the receiving device isin Zone 1.

FIG. 15 is an illustration 1500 of how an attenuator 1506 such as a wallmay be located between a base station, e.g., access point 1502,transmitting a beacon and a zone 1510 in which the beacon signal may bereceived subject to the attenuation caused by the presence of theattenuator 1508. The attenuator 1508 will reduce the energy receivedform the beacon transmitter 1502 but not the strength of beacon signalsreceived from access points 1504 and 1506 which have an unobstructedtransmission path to zone 1510. The known position of the attenuator andits attenuation characteristics maybe taken into consideration whenapplying a path loss model to a beacon signal transmitted by transmitter1502 with the relative energy received from beacon transmitters 1504,1506 as compared to the energy received from beacon 1502 allowing for adetermination as to what side of attenuator 1508 the wireless terminalmeasuring the received signal energy of the beacons transmitted by thedifferent access points is located on.

FIG. 16 illustrates a method 1600 which includes various exemplary stepswhich may be used in some but not all embodiments as part of the processof creating and updating probability surfaces that can be used todetermine whether or not a wireless terminal that receives one or morebeacon signals and reports the RSSI information for the received beaconsignals to a zone correlation in the server 120 or wireless terminalmaking the received signal measurements, is in a zone of interest.

The method begins in start step 1602. Then in step 1604 an RSSI surfaceis created for each access point, e.g., assuming an omni-directionantenna pattern, using a path loss model including at least twoparameters (PLE and TNT) which may be varied for a given distanced,where PLE stands for path loss exponent and Int refers to an Intercept.

In step 1606 RSSI the general RSSI surfaces created in step 1604 aremodified for individual beams taking into consideration the directionalcharacteristics of the particular beam. Data collected from mobiledevices receiving beacons and packets of information 1607 communicatedin such signals are used in step 1608 to create probability surfaces foreach beam with the surface for an individual beam including multiplepeaks and valleys. In step 1610 the probability surfaces for a beam arecombined to identify values for PLE and INT which result in a path lossmodel, which when used for multiple beams, maximizes a peak which willbe achieved when multiple probability surfaces are combined.

The process shown in FIG. 16 is iterative in nature with operationproceeding from step 1610 to step 1604 with the model parameters beingfurther refined over time as additional data 1607 is collected andreported.

The operation of the RF module engine 1206 can be understood taking intoconsideration the exemplary RSSI path loss model shown below:

Rssi=PLE*log 10d+intercept

Here, “d” is a distance value from the transmitter with units, likemeters. The intercept is a constant which maybe based on transmissionangle, distance from the transmitter to the ground and/or other factors.Consider for example if the intercept is the value at 1 meter, as log10(1)=0. PLE values may range from −20 (free space) to −32 (severeattenuation). Intercept for Bluetooth signals is normally about −59.

For the purposes of understanding, let us assume the path loss formulais perfect. That is, when you are 1 meter away, the RSSI is theintercept (−59)

When you are 10 meters away, the RSSI is the PLE*1+Intercept. If the PLEis −28, and the intercept is −59, for instance, the RSSI at 10 meterswould always be −87. Forget about walls, and such, for the moment.

Now, it is possible that different environments have different PLEs. Solet's start with the idea that Intercept is fixed and always correct,and path loss varies in environments, to a constant value. Consider thediagram shown in FIG. 13 which shows omni directional beacontransmitters and a zone, ZONE 1.

The PLE of each of the dark (solid) lines 1308, 1310. 1318 is −28, andthe PLE of each of the dotted lines 1302, 1304, 1306 is −22.

In the perfect world, a PLE of −28, the Location engine would yield noanswer with respect to Zone 1 which is the intersection location of thethree circles. The three dark lines do not intersect given such a PLE,and so the actual location is unknown. However, by iterating through PLEvalues, it would be possible to find the intersection with a PLE of −22.In this perfect world case, incorrect PLE values yield no answer at all,but correct ones yield an answer.

Also, in the perfect world, it is possible to determine both theintercept and the PLE by taking two different distances. Only a singlepair of PLE and intercept will provide locations for two distinctlocations.

Let us add one variable. Let us suppose that the path loss estimate(PLE) is perfect, and the intercept is perfect, but that the RSSIreading is imperfect. Randomly, in the real world, it varies due topower fluctuations, receiver issues, or other completely random reasons.So in the real world case, upon receipt of an RSSI reading, the actualdistance is uncertain. Because of this, the actual distance from thebeacon transmitter is probabilistic. The diagram in FIG. 14 shows theprobability of being in Zone 1 given an RSSI value which maybe reportedfrom different locations relative to beacon transmitter 1402. Note thatthe probability corresponding to a high received RSSI peaks at 0.4 whena device is located at the distance of Zone 1 1414 from beacontransmitter 1314.

There are various ways to model the variation in RSST, Gaussian,Rayleigh, etc. In one implementation a Gaussian variation in the RSSI isused in the module.

A single RSSI reading, then, can place likely locations for the tag,based on the path loss model, and the probability function, to locationsin an “n” dimensional space. In various embodiments the objective is tolocate a wireless terminal within a plane, so construct distances to thezone in 3 spaces, and determine the probability in a plane, for eachzone location given a reported RSSI value and knowledge of which beamwas used to transmit the beacon signal to which the RSSI valuecorresponds.

The multiple probability planes corresponding to different beacons arecombined using a mathematical function, to determine the most likelylocation, e.g., zone location, of the device.

An exemplary probability surface for a single high RSST readinggenerated for a beacon signal transmitted from a directional antenna canbe represented on a map using shading to represent probability of agiven RSSI value. Dark, areas can be used in such a map to indicateareas where there is a high likelihood of a high RSSI reading. Lightershades/colors indicate possible locations, but with lower probabilitiesfor a high RSSI reading. Other readings (RSSI measurements andcorresponding beacon information) from other beacons, with theircorresponding probability surfaces, are combined mathematically to helplocate the device to its most likely position, e.g., zone.

These combinations yield a location result. In general, due to errors,each “most likely” location is adjusted by other beacon measurements,and so each location determination is slightly off. Each set of beaconsignal measurements has an error and thus the location determination hasan “Error” associated with it as well.

Consider once again the diagram shown in FIG. 13 . In the FIG. 13 case,a wrong Path Loss Estimate (PLE) will give low probability to the dottedline, but the Zone correlation Engine will still yield the actuallocation as the highest probability because the mathematically computedlocation is still the actual. However, each individual locationdetermination will be off, because the PLE is incorrect. In theexemplary case, with three equidistant beacon transmitters, there isonly one right answer.

Upon creating a location estimate, each beacon signal will have an errorvalue to the computed zone location, where it ideally would place thezone (the dark line) vs. where it actually places the tag (the dottedline). This yields a discrepancy between where each beacon signal wouldplace the location, and where the beacons, collectively, indicate it is.The discrepancy can be used to create an error surface that is afunction of the RF model e.g.

PLE/INT. By finding the minimum on this error surface the RF model thatminimizes the location error can be determined. This approach caneliminate the need for manual site surveys. In a world of consistentPLE, and intercept, selecting the PLE and intercept that minimizes theerror over many estimated data points minimizes location error overall,despite that the actual location is not known. Experimentally, in someexperiments the computed PLE and intercept values are within 5% ofoptimal values over some 4K samples.

The above discussion explains how to optimize two values, e.g., a pathloss value and an intercept. The above discussion assumes a constant,the RSSI variation expected.

It is possible to use the guiding path loss equation, to determineenvironmental variables.

As an example, consider the diagram shown in FIG. 13 .

In the FIG. 15 example Beacon signal 1 transmitted from the access point1502 represented by a circle in which the phrase Beacon 1 is placed,will have reduced RSSI through the attenuator 1508, and as such willview the perceived location of the beacon transmitter 1502 as furtheraway. It will have the general effect of increasing the overall PLE ofthe network.

Meanwhile, assume the two other beacon transmitters 1504, 1506 shown inFIG. 15 are not subject to the effect of the attenuator 1508. In such acase the un-attenuated beacon signals from beacon transmitters 1504,1506 will have the property of pushing the perceived beacon signalcloser to the attenuating obstacle given use of the same path lossestimate for all three beacon transmitters, yielding an inconsistency inthe error, statistically over many samples.

It is possible to determine that the beacon signal transmitted by beacontransmitter 1502 has been attenuated at specific points in thetransmission path. The location of the attenuation can be determined bylooking at errors in the probability surfaces, and notingdiscontinuities in error values over many samples, and attributingsignificant error to the beacon transmitted by beacon transmitter 1502.The final variable, the distribution of error, can similarly bedetermined through machine learning.

It is possible to determine the likelihood, statistically, of manysamples to a given location. That is, the distribution of error. Forinstance, very high RSSI values indicate accurate locations of beaconswith small error. It is possible to use these high probability locationsto determine the variations in distant readings, and statistically, withlarge numbers, to determine the overall probability distribution givenless reliable values.

FIG. 16 is conceptual diagram showing how the path loss model parametersmay be updated over time based on received RSSI values while the pathloss model initially starts out using values for parameters in the pathloss module which are determined without the use of signal measurementsfrom the area where the devices and zones are located. However, overtime the modules parameters are updated based on RSST measurements madeby wireless devices at the location.

In some embodiments multiple APs capable of transmitting beacons ondifferent antenna beams are used at a location, e.g., store. Individualantenna beams transmit beacons into regions corresponding to differentbeams. Beacons provide information that is relevant to the geographicregion into which the beacons are transmitted. The information may beincluded directly in the beacon signal or information in the beaconsignal such as a beacon identifier, alone or in combination withreceived signal strength information, can be mapped, e.g., directly orvia a zone determination operation to information relevant to thegeographic region into which the beacon or beacons are transmitted. Forexample, a beam covering a tie rack may advertise ties while a beamcovering a coffee counter may advertise coffee. The APs maybe BluetoothAPS which transmit BTLE beacons. The APS maybe mounted in a ceiling,e.g., of a store or other building. The APS can be configured remotely,e.g., via signals received from a device in the cloud or locally viasignals received from a device, e.g., UE device, located in the store.Configuration may include indicating what area, e.g., zone, of the storeis to be covered by a beacon and what information is to be transmittedon the beacon or provided to a wireless terminal when the wirelessterminal is determined to be in the zone based on one or more receivedbeacon signals alone or in combination with received signal strengthinformation. In some embodiments an information database is maintainedand included information corresponding to a zone to be provided to awireless terminal when, based on one or more received beacon signals, itis determined that the wireless terminal is in the zone. FIG. 17 , whichcomprises the combination of FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrates the steps ofan access point configuration subroutine 1700 which can be called toconfigure an access point, e.g., an actual access point, used totransmit one or more beacon signals. The access point maybe a sectorizedaccess point, e.g., a Bluetooth access point, a WiFi access point of anaccess point of a different type.

The method 1700, which may be implemented by configuration server 120,starts in step 1702 when called by another routine or device, e.g., bystep 824 of the method shown in FIG. 8 . Operation proceeds from startstep 1702 to step 1704. In step 1704 the configuration server receivesaccess point location, access point sector information and/or otherconfiguration or capability information for one or more access points.The information for an individual access point may include such thingsas height from ground or the floor over which the access point ismounted, the number of sectors the access point includes based on asectorized antenna or beam forming capability, the orientation of theaccess point and sectors, e.g., as measured by a compass included in theaccess point or reported by an information provider, the frequency bandor bands into which the access point transmits, maximum transmit powerand one or more protocols, e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, iBeacon, etc.,supported by the access point.

Step 1704 includes in some embodiments one or both of steps 1706 and1709. In step 1706 user input indicating the location of one or moreaccess points is received along with user provided access pointcapability and/or configuration information of the type discussed above.The information maybe transmitted to the configuration server 120 via anaccess point with the information being entered by the user operating aWT 504 or other control device capable of communicating the informationto the configuration server. In step 1709 the access point informationis received from an access point. The information may include sensedposition and orientation information as well as device capability and/orconfiguration information which was preloaded into the access point, orwhich are known based on device type identification information storedin the access point and supplied to the configuration server 120.

Operation proceeds from step 1704 to step 1710 wherein the configurationreceives input used to determine beacon coverage areas ne/or zones. Theinput may include information about user's designation of desired beacontransmitter locations indicated on a floor plan or map along withcorresponding zone information which may be communicated from a controldevice 504 to the configuration server via an access point.Alternatively, or in addition the information received in step 1710 maybe received signal information such as information indicating a locationor sector from which a signal was received indicating a desire to placea beacon transmitter at the location from which the signal was received.Additional information that maybe and sometimes is received in step 1710includes information such as a beacon identifier to be assigned to thebeacon signal to be transmitted and/or information about a transmissionschedule or beacon signal content to be transmitted. However, suchinformation is optional and not provided in all embodiments.

Operation proceeds from step 1710 to step 1712 wherein the configurationserver 120 identifies at least one access point corresponding to thedesired beacon coverage area which can transmit a beacon signal into allor at least a portion of the beacon coverage area. Then in step 1714 asector is identified for use in transmitting the beacon signal from theidentified access point. The sector will normally be a sector which isfacing the desired beacon coverage area. With the access point andsector transmitter to be used for transmitting a beacon having beendetermined, operation proceeds to step 1716 in which a beacon ID isassigned to a beacon signal to be transmitted by the identified sector.

Operation then proceeds to step 1718 wherein a check is made todetermine if a power level was specified in received information for thebeacon signal to be transmitted. If an step 1718 it is determined that atransmit power level was specified, operation proceeds to step 1722.However, if in step 1718 it is determined that a transmit power levelwas not specified for the beacon signal to be transmitted, operationproceeds to step 1720 in which a transmit power level is determinedwhich when used by the identified sector transmitter of the identifiedaccess point will result in beacon signal coverage of the desired beaconsignal coverage area.

Operation proceeds from step 1720 to step 1722. In step 1722 the beacontransmit power to be used for the beacon signal to be transmitted isstep to the power level determined in step 1720 or specified in thereceived information. Operation then proceeds to step 1724 in which theinformation to be communicated in the beacon signal is determined. Theinformation maybe and sometimes is one or more beacon identifiers. Theinformation may in some but not all embodiments, include informationcorresponding to goods or services which are to be advertised and whichcorrespond to the coverage area of the beacon signal, e.g., can beobtained from a location within the beacon coverage area or near thebeacon coverage area.

Operation proceeds from step 1724 to step 1728 via connecting node D1726. In step 1728 a beacon transmission schedule is determined. In someembodiments the beacon transmission schedule is a function of a saleschedule or when particular items or services are to be offered in thearea into which the beacon is to be broadcast. Zone information in someembodiments is also determined and associated, in step 1729, with beaconsignal to be transmitted. This allows the beacon ID to be associatedwith information corresponding to a zone when receipt of a beacon signalis reported, e.g., to a zone correlation engine. The beacon ID to zonecorrelation information maybe stored in the configuration server 120 anddistributed to various devices which include zone correlation engineswhich correlate received beacon information to zones and informationcorresponding to the identified corresponding zone or zones.

Operation proceeds from step 1729 to step 1730 in which the beaconsignal information is stored in memory. Then in step 1732 the beaconsignal information to be communicated to the access point which has beenselected for transmission of the beacon signal is stored. Then in step1736 the information is communicated, e.g., transmitted from theconfiguration server 120 to the access point 130, 132 or 136 to beconfigured. In this manner the access point to transmit a beacon signalis supplied with the sector information indicating the sector or sectorsinto which a beacon signal is to be transmitted, the transmit powerlevel, the information to be transmitted in the beacon signal, thebeacon signal transmit schedule and in embodiments where multipletransmit frequencies or beacon signal types are supported the frequencyand/or type of beacon signal to be transmitted. For access points whichsupport beam forming capability information on the antenna weightsand/or antenna identifiers used to control beam forming operations mayalso be communicated to the access point which is to transmit the beaconsignal.

Operation proceeds from step 1736 to step 1738 which a return step.Operation proceeds back to the routine which called the access pointconfiguration subroutine 1700 where operation can continue with theroutine 1700 being potentially called multiple times to configuredifferent access points to transmit different beacon signals or the sameaccess to transmit multiple different beacon signals, e.g., fromdifferent sector antennas or with different transmit power levels,frequencies or signal formats.

FIG. 18 illustrates the steps of a method 1800 of operating an accesspoint, e.g., a first access point 130, to communicate access pointconfiguration information to a configuration server, communicate userprovided control input and to transmit beacon signals in accordance withvarious features.

The method starts in step 1802 with the access point implementing themethod being powered on. Operation proceeds from step 1802 to step 1803in which the access point makes various measurements, e.g., height fromground or floor, orientation of access point and sectors based onmeasurement made by internal compass, measurements of signals receivedfrom neighboring access points including sector on which an individualsignal was received and received signal strength to allow distanceestimates and relative orientation with respect to neighboring accesspoint to be determined. In addition, the access point reports theresults of the measurements to another device, e.g., configurationserver 120, along with access point capability information and/or typewhich, in some cases includes information about the number of sectors,maximum supported transmit power, supported transmission protocolsand/or frequencies. Having provided location and capability informationto the configuration server 120 the access point, e.g., access point 130is ready to receive configuration information, e.g., from a controldevice such as the configuration server 120.

Operation proceeds from step 1803 to step 1804. In step 1804 the firstaccess point receives information from a control device, e.g., WT 504which can provide beacon signal and/or zone configuration information tobe communicated to the control server 120 that can be used to controlthe configuration of the first access point 130. Receiving informationin step 1804 can include receiving a first zone configuration controlsignal from a control device such as WT 504 at a first location withinthe coverage area of the first access point as indicated in sub step1806. The first zone configuration control signal may and sometimes doesindicate a desire to designate an area, from which the first zoneconfiguration control signal was transmitted as a first zone. Thus, bytransmitting a signal from a location in the coverage area of an accesspoint, the WT 504 can signal to the access point a desire to configure azone, which will be covered by at least one beacon signal. The zoneconfiguration signal may indicate a desire to transmit a beacon signalcovering the indicated zone. In step 1808 the access point receivesinformation, e.g., a beacon ID or other information to be included ascontent in a first beacon signal to be transmitted in to the first zone.The information maybe indicated as being for transmission using a firstbeam covering the first location where the beam may correspond to asector or be formed by transmission from multiple sector transmitters ofthe first access point. In addition to the signal indicating a desire toconfigure a zone into which a beacon signal is or will be transmitted,the first access point in step 1810 receives information from thecontrol device WT 504 indicating a transmission schedule to be used tocontrol transmission of a beacon signal including first beacon contentto be communicated using the first beacon signal transmitted using aaccess point transmission beacon covering the first location from whichthe control signal is transmitted to the access point. Step 1812 whichis included in some embodiments includes the access point receivingbeacon information indicating a first beacon signal to be transmittedinto the first area using the first beam and a time period or scheduleto be used to control transmission of the first beacon signal from thefirst access point.

With the control information received from the wireless terminal 504used to send control signals to the first access point 130 to beconfigured, operation proceeds to step 1814 in which the first accesspoint forwards all or at least some of the zone/beacon/access pointconfiguration information to the configuration server 120 for use inconfiguring the first access point. Thus, in cases where the WT 504 islocated within the coverage area of the first access point 130 the firstaccess point 130 can act as a conduit for the control information withthe information being received and forwarded to the configuration server120.

In addition to receiving configuration used to control configuration ofa first zone the access point 130 can and does receive configurationinformation from the control device used to configure other zones andsectors of the first access point. Such signals may be sent as a userwalks with the device 504 through the area covered by the first accesspoint.

Operation proceeds from step 1814 to step 1816. In step 1816 the accesspoint receives, from the control device 504, information forconfiguration a second zone, e.g., corresponding to a coverage area of abeacon which can be transmitted from a second sector of said firstaccess point. In sub step 1818 the first access point receives a secondzone configuration control signal from the control device 504 while thecontrol device 504 is at a second location where the second location iswithin the coverage area of the first access point but is a differentlocation than the first location, e.g., a location corresponding to thecoverage area of a second sector. The user while present at the secondlocation may send a signal to the access point via WT 504 to signal thata zone is to be established corresponding to the second location and abeacon transmission should be associated with the zone. Thus, the secondzone configuration control signal indicates, at least in someembodiments a desire to designate a second area, e.g. an area of apredetermined or indicated size centered around the second location, asa second zone.

Step 1816 may also include sub step 1820 in step 1820 information isreceived from the control device 504 indicating second beacon content tobe communicated by a second beacon signal which is to be transmittedusing a second beam covering the second location, e.g., a beamcorresponding to a second sector of the first access point. Step 1816also may and sometimes does include step 1822. In step 1822 informationis received from the control device 504 indicating a transmissionschedule to be used to control transmission of the second beacon signaland thus the content to be communicated by the second beacon signal.Thus, when transmission is implemented according to the second schedulethe information, e.g., beacon Id mapping to information to be advertisedor the actual information to be advertised, will be communicated by thesecond beacon signal according to the second schedule.

Operation proceeds from step 1816 to step 1824 in which at least some ofthe information received in step 181 is communicated to theconfiguration server 120. Thus, as a manager moves from location tolocation he may signal to the access point covering an area that abeacon signal and/or zone is to be established for the area from whichthe signal is transmitted with the information being relayed to theconfiguration server along with, optionally, information identifying theaccess point which received the signal, sector of the access point whichreceived the signal and received signal strength. From this informationand the known location of the access point and potentially informationfrom other access points which also detected one or more signals fromthe control device 504, the configuration server can determine thelocation of the zone and/or beacon coverage area to be configured.

As an alternative to receiving control signals transmitted from thephysical locations where a user of the control device 504 would like toplace a zone and beacon coverage area, similar to the way a user wouldplace and configure an actual beacon transmitter, a user of the WT 504or another control device can designate a zone and/or beacon coveragearea on a map and configure the zone with the related configurationinformation and location of the beacon coverage area and correspondingzone being communicated to the configuration server 120 by way of amessage sent through an access node or another network connection. Instep 1826 the first access point may and in some embodiments doesreceive such configuration information from the control device 504. Instep 1826 the first access point receives user input identifying an areaon a floor plan to be designated as a zone, e.g., a third zone oranother zone, into which a beacon signal is to be transmitted. As shouldbe appreciated “third” in this context is simply used as a zoneidentifier and another identifier such as “first” could be used if firstand second zone information has not already been received by the timestep 1826 is implemented.

Following step 1826 m the information received in step 1826 is stored,e.g., in memory along with information received from the control device504 identifying one or more beacon signals to be transmitted using oneor more beams covering all or a part of the third zone.

Operation proceeds from step 1828 to step 1830. In step 1830 informationreceived and stored, e.g., in steps 1826 and 1828, is forwarded to theconfiguration server. The information indicates the location of thethird zone, the information to be transmitted into the third zone withone or more beacon signals and optionally a desired transmit schedule.Thus, the configuration server 120 may be provided with map-based beaconand zone configuration information from control device 504 which canforward such information to the control server 120 via an access pointor another network node.

Operation proceeds from step 1830 to step 1834 via connecting node 1832.Thus, by the time step 1834 is performed various information relating toconfiguring one or more beacon signals and corresponding zones has beencommunicated to the configuration server 120. The configuration server120 determines how to configure one more access points based on thereceived configuration information indicating desired zone, beaconcoverage areas and the beacon IDs or information to be communicated byeach of the coverage areas. As noted above a coverage area maycorrespond to an area which is at least partially covered by a beacontransmitter, e.g., an access point sector transmitter of a Bluetooth,WiFi or other type of base station.

In step 1834 the first access point 130 receives access pointconfiguration information from a network device, e.g., control server120. Step 1834 may and sometimes does includes steps 1836 and 1836. Instep 1836 the first access point receives first access pointconfiguration information providing first antenna pattern configurationinformation specifying a first beam forming pattern to be used togenerate a first beam, the first beam forming pattern. In at least someembodiments the information received in step 1836 indicates whichantenna elements are to be used to transmit signals corresponding to thefirst beam. Step 1836 is used where multiple sectors antennas maytransmit at the same time with the sector antennas operating together toform a transmission beam that can be used to transmit one or more beaconsignals. A single or multiple sector antennas can be used to form abeam.

In step 1838 first access point configuration information which providesinformation corresponding to a second antenna pattern to be used togenerate a second beam is received. The second antenna patterninformation may specify a different set of antennas, e.g., sectorantennas, to be used in combination to form the second beam. Theinformation received regarding the second beam indicates at least asecond set of antenna elements to be used to form the second beam. Thesecond set of antenna elements includes at least one antenna element,e.g., sector transmitter of the first access point, which is differentfrom the antenna elements included in the set used to form the firstbeam.

Operation proceeds from step 1834 to step 1840 where the first accesspoint configures one or more beacon transmission beams based on thereceived information. This may include setting switches which cause thefirst set of antenna elements to be used for transmission or receptionwhen the first beam is to be used and setting switches which cause thesecond set of antenna elements to be used for transmission or receptionwhen the second beam is to be used.

Step 1840 includes in some embodiments step 1842 which involvesoperating a first access point to configure the first beam to cover ageographic are including the first location, e.g., a geographic areacorresponding to a portion or all of the first zone. Step 1840 may andin some embodiments also includes step 1844 which involves operating thefirst access point 130 to configure the second beam to cover ageographic are including the second location, e.g., a geographic areacorresponding to a portion or all of the second zone. As part of step1840 beacon transmission schedule information may also be stored so thatthe first access point 130 knows when to use the first and second beamconfigurations for transmitting beacon signals. The content of thebeacon signal, type of beacon signal and frequency on which a beaconsignal is to be transmitted can also be received by the first accesspoint from the configuration server 120 and stored in the first accesspoint, e.g., as part of step 1840.

Operation proceeds from step 1840 to step 1846. In step 1846 the firstaccess point is used to transmit different beacons, e.g., usingdifferent beams, into different coverage areas, e.g., corresponding todifferent zones and/or beacon signals.

Step 1846 includes in some embodiments step 1848. In step 1848 the firstaccess point transmits a first set of one or more beacon signals into afirst coverage area corresponding to a first beam. The beacon signalscommunicate information, e.g., directly in the beacon signal orindirectly by providing a beacon ID which maps to information, relevantto the first zone. In at least some embodiments the first zone is atleast partially in the first coverage area with the beacon signalsproviding information that is relevant to the first zone area.

Step 1848 includes in at least some beam forming embodiments, step 1850which includes transmitting information using at least two antennaelements, transmission of the at least two antenna elements combining ina pattern which forms the first beam. In other embodiments the firstbeam may correspond to a single antenna element, e.g., sectortransmitter.

Step 1846 may and sometimes also does include step 1852. In step 1852the first access point transmits a second set of one or more beaconsignals into the second coverage area corresponding to the second beam.The first and second coverage area are different in some embodiments,the second set of beacon signals may, and in some embodiments doescommunicate information relevant to the second zone to which the secondcoverage area corresponds. The information relevant to the second zone,such as information about goods or services available in the second zonemaybe communicated directly in the beacon signals or by the beaconsignal communicating a beacon ID or other identifier which maps to andthus can be used to retrieve, e.g., from a database, the informationbeing communicated.

While step 1846 involves the transmission of beacon signals from thefirst access point 130, it should be appreciated that the first accesspoint can receive additional configuration information and be configuredto transit into multiple zones at different times, e.g., using sets ofantennas corresponding to one or more different sectors of the firstbase station to form different beams as needed. To convey the idea ofthe ongoing operation, operation is shown proceeding from step 1846 backto step 1804 via goto node 1848.

While FIG. 18 shows the operation of a first access point 130, it shouldbe appreciated that the system includes multiple access points 130, 132,136 which each access point being capable of implementing the methodshown in FIG. 18 and being configured to transmit beacon signals intocoverage area which the access point can reach with transmitted signals.Thus, the method of FIG. 18 is sometimes used to configure a secondaccess point 132 in which case the references to “first access point” inFIG. 18 would be interpreted as referring to the second access point132.

It should be appreciated that in some embodiments the access pointconfigured in accordance with the method of FIG. 18 is a Bluetoothsectorized access point which may and sometimes does transmit BLE beaconsignals. The access point maybe such as the one described with regard toany one or more other figures in this application. The first accesspoint may, and in some embodiments does include at least 3 but oftenseveral more sectors. In some embodiments to facilitate a high level ofdirectivity the access point includes at least 6 sectors but sometimes 9or more sectors. The antenna element of each sector can be usedindependently, or multiple sector antennas can be used in combination tofrom a beam allowing for a wide range of beam forming options andcoverage areas.

FIG. 19 illustrates a set 1900 of beacon and zone information generatedand maintained by the configuration server 120 in some embodiments. Theset of information includes for each of a plurality of beacon signals 1to K various information which can be used to configure a transmitter totransmit the beacon signal in the case of a real beacon signal or whichcan be used to predict the receipt of a virtual beacon signal in thecase of a signal which is not transmitted but which is to be indicatedas being received when a device is within the coverage area of thevirtual beacon signal.

Each row 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1930 corresponds to a different beaconsignal with the particular beacon signal to which the row correspondsbeing identified by the beacon identifier included in the third column,1906, of the row. Thus, for example the first row 1920 corresponds tobeacon 1 while row 3 corresponds to the beacon identified by beaconidentifier Beacon 3. For each beacon signal various information isincluded. The first column 1902 includes a beacon transmitter used totransmit the beacon signal listed in the third column of thecorresponding row. For example, the transmitter identified by theidentifier TX1 is used to transmit Beacon signal identified by beaconsignal identifier Beacon 1. The second column of each row indicates thelocation, e.g., by coordinates in space or by GPS coordinates of thetransmitter identified in column 1 of the same row. The locationinformation may, and sometime does, allow the determination of theposition of the transmitter within a building or above a floor or theground. The fourth row 1908 indicates beacon content for the beacon ofthe particular row. The beacon content may include information inaddition to the beacon identifier or be limited to one or more beaconIDs. The fifth column of a row indicates the type of beacon to which therow corresponds. This allows the transmitter to determine the format ofthe beacon signal to be transmitted. The sixth row 1912 indicates afrequency band in which the beacon signal of the row is transmitted.Different frequency bands may be used for different types of beaconsignals and/or an access point may support multiple frequency bandsmaking frequency band information 1912 useful with regard to informingan AP as to what frequency band to use for the beacon signal to whichthe row corresponds. Transmission power level information for the beaconidentified in a row is specified in the seventh column 1914 of FIG. 19 .The eight column 1916 is included in systems which support the use ofreal and virtual beacons and indicates whether the beacon in the row towhich the indicator corresponds is a real or virtual beacon. In the caseof a virtual beacon no beacon signal transmission are to take place andthe identified transmitter in many cases will not be a real transmitterwhile in some cases the identified transmitter may be a real transmitterbut is not transmit a signal corresponding to the virtual beacon. Thelast column 1917 indicates a zone to which a beacon corresponds.Multiple beacons may correspond to, and sometime do correspond to, thesame zone but in many cases, beacons correspond to different zones.

All or some of the information shown in FIG. 19 is maintained, updated,and distributed by the configuration server 120 in some embodiments.Real access points can use the configuration information to determinewhat beacon signals to transmit, e.g., with different sectortransmitters or different beams corresponding to different transmitteridentifiers. A zone correlation engine can use the information in table1900 to determine based on reports of received beacon signals and/orcorresponding received beacon signal strength which zone a WT 504 is inat a given time and to then provide information corresponding to thezone.

Modules and/or apparatus used to determine the receipt of virtual beaconsignals can use the information in table 1900 along with positioninformation of a wireless terminal and a path loss model to determinewhen receipt of a virtual beacon signal should be declared and reportedto another device or module.

Numerous other uses of the information included in table 1900 arepossible. In some embodiments each row further include an entryindicating a beacon transmission time schedule of the beacon signal ofthe row in which the schedule is included.

Virtual beacons will now be discussed further with reference to theexemplary system shown in FIG. 20 .

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary communications system 2000 implementedin accordance with various exemplary embodiments. The system 2000supports the use of virtual beacon signals in addition to, or as analternative to, actual beacon signals. Exemplary communications system2000 includes a plurality of communications devices including aplurality of access points, wireless terminal devices and network nodes.FIG. 21 shows the communications devices in the system include awireless terminal (WT) 1 2002, WT 2004, WT N 2006, access point 1 2008,access point 2 2010, access point M 2016, and a network node 2020. Thecommunications devices of the system 2000 support communications andsignaling using a variety of protocols including LTE Direct, WiFi,Bluetooth etc. Some of the communications devices, e.g., WT 2002, 2004,2006 are mobile communications devices, e.g., mobile wireless terminalssuch as handheld mobile communications devices. Some other devices,e.g., access points 2008, 2010, 2016 may be fixed location devicesincluding a wireless interface supporting transmitting/receivingwireless signals and a wired interface providing coupling to a backhaulnetwork.

As illustrated, in some embodiments the access points 2008, 2010, 2016and the network node 2020 are coupled via a backhaul network, e.g.,backhaul network. The network node 2020 is a node in the core networkand is coupled to access points and/or other network nodes via thebackhaul. The network node 2020 in some embodiments is a beaconinformation and/or configuration server which may be, and in someembodiments is, configured to implement the methods of the presentinvention discussed in flowchart 2100. In some embodiments the node 2020provides beacon transmitter information indicating location and/or otherinformation relating to actual and/or virtual beacon transmitters (e.g.,access points transmitting beacon signals) in the system to the wirelessterminal WT 2002, 2004, . . . , 2006.

In various embodiments one or more access points in system 2000 operateas beacon transmitters and may transmit, e.g., broadcast, beacon signalsincluding information. Exemplary information in a beacon signal mayinclude, e.g., device information, product advertisement, serviceadvertisement, an offer of service, an offer of a product, locationinformation, etc. For the purpose of illustration in FIG. 20 , accesspoint 1 2008 is shown transmitting a beacon signal 2022, access point 22010 is shown transmitting a beacon signal 2024 and access point l′vl2016 is shown transmitting a beacon signal 2026, which may be detectedby other devices in its vicinity or transmission range of the accesspoints. In some embodiments the location of one or more beacontransmitters is known to the network node 2020 which may and in someembodiments does share the location information with the wirelessterminals in the system. Devices may also transmit other types ofsignals, e.g., traffic data signals including user data including, e.g.,voice, text, and/or image data, to one or more of other communicationsdevices in the communications system 2000. In some embodiments thecommunication between the network node 2020 and mobile wirelessterminals is via the one or more access points in the system 2000. Insome embodiments at least some of the access points 2008, 2010, 2016provide access to the Internet and/or other network nodes via a wired orfiber network connection.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the system 2000 and thedevices therein support both real and virtual beacons. While a realbeacon is actually transmitted from a beacon transmitting device such asthe access points, a virtual beacon as the name suggests is virtual andis not actually transmitted from a beacon transmitter. Thus, whilevarious access points are shown in FIG. 1 , for virtual beacon signalsan actual beacon transmitter need not be present at the locationcorresponding to the access point. While a virtual beacon signal is notactually transmitted or received, in accordance with the features ofsome embodiments a device such as a wireless terminal (e.g., any of thewireless terminals WT 2002, WT 2004, . . . , WT 2006) may get amisrepresentation, e.g., indication via a message, making it believethat a beacon signal has been received and the wireless terminal maythen report receipt of the beacon signal (e.g., virtual beacon) to anetwork device such as node 2020 or a component within the wirelessterminal which takes further actions. The wireless terminal reportingthe reception of the beacon signal may not even know that an actualbeacon has not been received and the wireless terminal has been trickedinto believing that a beacon signal has been received. In someembodiments the wireless terminal operates as a virtual beacon receptiondetermination device.

FIG. 21 illustrates a flowchart 2100 of an exemplary method of operatinga communications device, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Insome embodiments the exemplary communications device implementing themethod of flowchart 2100 is a wireless terminal such as any one of thewireless terminals of system 2000. In various embodiments, the wirelessterminal is a handheld device that does not operate as an access point,e.g., base station. In some embodiments the exemplary communicationsdevice implementing the method of flowchart 2100 is a network node suchas the network node 2020.

Operation starts in step 2102, where the communications device ispowered on and initialized and proceeds to step 2104. In step 2104, thecommunications device receives input including beacon transmitterinformation. The beacon transmitter information in some embodimentsincludes a set of information, for a plurality of beacon transmittersand/or beacon signals, indicating one or more of the following: beacontransmitter identity, beacon transmitter location, whether the beacontransmitter is real or virtual, beacon signal identifier, beacon signalcontent (whether beacon is virtual or real), transmit power level,frequency band used for transmission etc. The information may beprovided to the communications device in a variety of ways, e.g.,entering the beacon transmitter information manually, providing theinformation to the communications device over the air from amanagement/configuration device etc.

Operation proceeds from step 2104 to step 2106. In step 2106 the beacontransmitter information is stored in a memory, e.g., as information intable 1900. In some embodiments the beacon transmitter informationincludes, for a first beacon signal, information indicating: i) alocation of a first beacon transmitter which transmits the first beaconsignal, ii) a transmit power level of the first beacon signal; and iii)information communicated by the first beacon signal. An exemplary beacontransmitter information table 1900 is shown in FIG. 19 and discussedabove in detail. In some embodiments the first beacon transmitter is avirtual beacon transmitter.

Operation proceeds from step 2106 to step 2108. In step 2108 thecommunications device receives or otherwise determines locationinformation indicating a location of a wireless terminal, e.g., wirelessterminal which is to report reception of a beacon signal. In someembodiments the communications device is the wireless terminal itselfwhich is to report receipt of a beacon, e.g., virtual beacon, and mayeither determine its own location, e.g., based on GPS signals or otherreceived signals/information from other devices, or may receiveinformation from a network node indicating the location of the wirelessterminal. Regardless of the approach of location determination, thelocation of a wireless terminal is determined and considered. Operationproceeds from step 2108 to step 2110. In step 2110 the communicationsdevice monitors the location of the wireless terminal relative tolocations of one or more beacon transmitters, e.g., beacon transmittersidentified in the stored information. In various embodiments themonitoring for wireless terminal location is performed to determinewhether the wireless terminal is in proximity and/or transmissionrange/coverage area of the one or more known beacon transmitters, e.g.,such as those corresponding to which beacon transmitter information isstored. It should be appreciated that such determination can be madesince the location of one or more beacon transmitters is included in thebeacon transmitter information.

Operation proceeds from step 2110 to step 2112. In step 2112 thecommunications device determines whether the wireless terminal is in thetransmission range of or more known beacon transmitters (virtual orreal). If in step 2112 it is determined, based on the location ofwireless terminal and the location of one or more beacon transmitters,that the wireless terminal is not in the transmission range of one ormore beacon transmitters the operation proceeds from step 2112 back tostep 2110 and the monitoring of wireless terminal location in comparisonto the location of beacon transmitters continues. If in step 2112 it isdetermined, based on the location of wireless terminal and the locationof one or more beacon transmitters, that the wireless terminal is in thetransmission range of one or more beacon transmitters the operationproceeds from step 2112 to step 2114. In step 2114 the communicationdevice determines, based on the location of the wireless terminal andthe first beacon transmitter, a beacon signal to be reported, the beaconsignal to be reported being a beacon signal which would be received bythe wireless terminal if the beacon signal to be reported weretransmitted in accordance with the stored beacon transmitterinformation. For example, during monitoring in step 2110 of the wirelessterminal location relative to location of beacon transmitters maydetect, based on the location of the wireless terminal at the giventime, that the wireless terminal is in the transmission range of a knownbeacon transmitter (whether real or virtual).

Based on the location comparison it can be determined which beacontransmitter has the wireless terminal in its transmission range sincethe location of beacon transmitters is indicated in the stored beacontransmitter information. Further based on the stored information it canalso be determined what type of beacon signal and beacon content isexpected from the beacon transmitter which has the wireless terminal inits transmission range. Thus, in step 2114 the communication deviceidentifies the beacon signal to be reported based on the location of thewireless terminal and the stored beacon transmitter information whichindicates the location and other information corresponding to the beacontransmitter and beacon signal to be reported.

Operation proceeds from step 2114 to step 2116. In step 2116 thecommunications device determines a received signal strength for thebeacon signal to be reported based on the location of said wirelessterminal and based on stored transmit power level informationcorresponding the beacon signal to be reported. In some embodiments thecommunications device uses the indicated transmission power levelcorresponding to the beacon signal to be reported (virtual or real)indicated in the stored information and a path loss model to determinethe received signal strength for the beacon signal to be reported. Apredetermined path loss model and stored information about the virtualbeacon transmitter power allows, based on the distance between thevirtual beacon transmitter and the location of the wireless terminal,the wireless terminal, or another device to determine the estimatedreceived signal strength of a beacon that would have been received iftransmitted by the virtual transmitter. In some embodiments thecommunications device includes a path loss determination deviceconfigured to calculate the path loss between the wireless terminalreporting the reception of virtual beacon signal and the virtual beacontransmitter. Those skilled in the art would readily appreciate thatusing the wireless terminal location, stored transmit power levelinformation corresponding the beacon signal to be reported and the pathloss, the received signal strength for the beacon signal to be reportedcan be determined.

Operation proceeds from step 2116 to step 2118. In step 2118 thecommunications device generates a message indicating reception of thebeacon signal to be reported, the message including a beacon identifieridentifying the beacon signal to be reported. In some embodiments thestep 2118 of generating the message indicating reception of the beaconsignal to be reported includes step 2120 of incorporating, in themessage, information indicating the determined received signal strength.Thus, in some embodiments the generated message indicating reception ofthe beacon signal to be reported includes a beacon identifieridentifying the beacon signal whose reception is being reported and thedetermined received signal strength (e.g., determined in step 2116). Insome embodiments the message reports receipt of a beacon signal whichwas not actually received by the wireless terminal, e.g., in the case ofvirtual beacons.

Operation proceeds from step 2118 to step 2122. In step 2122 thecommunications device communicates the message indicating reception ofthe beacon signal to be reported to the wireless terminal or a componentin the wireless terminal which acts upon information indicating thereceipt of one or more beacon signals. In some embodiments thecommunications device is a network device (e.g., located external to thewireless terminal) in the core network which receives wireless locationinformation from the wireless terminal or determines the location of thewireless terminal from a signal received from another device.

Thus, in some embodiments where the communications device implementingthe method 2100 is the network node, e.g., node 2020, the communicationsdevice performs virtual beacon reception determination operation for awireless terminal. In some such embodiments the network node sends thegenerated message indicating reception of the beacon signal to bereported to the wireless terminal. Following receipt of the message fromthe communications device the wireless terminal, in some embodiments,proceeds to take an action that it would take upon receiving an actualbeacon signal.

In some other embodiments where the communications device implementingthe method is the wireless terminal itself, e.g., operating as thevirtual beacon reception determination device, the communications devicesends the message indicating reception of the beacon signal to bereported to a component in the wireless terminal which acts uponinformation indicating the receipt of one or more beacon signals. Thecomponent may be a device, application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), processor or module within the wireless terminal that takesaction in response to receipt of beacon signals. In some embodimentsstep 2122 further includes step 2124 which is shown in a dashed box asan optional step. In step 2124 the communications device transmits thegenerated message, e.g., via a transmitter, to a device external to thecommunications device which provides information in response to reportsof received beacon signals. Such an external device that providesinformation in response to reports of received beacon signals may be,e.g., a location server, an advertisement server etc. Messages reportingreceipt of a virtual beacon signal may, and in some embodiments do,indicate distance, in addition to received signal strength, to thevirtual beacon transmitter and optionally also direction to the virtualbeacon transmitter.

FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary communications device 2200 implementedin accordance with some embodiments which is capable of detectingreceipt of beacons and reporting the receipt of beacon signals to one ormore devices. Exemplary communications device 2200 can be used as thenetwork node 2020 shown in FIG. 20 . The exemplary communications device2200 can also be used as any of the wireless terminal 2002, 2004, 2006of FIG. 20 . The communications device 2200 may, and sometimes does,implement a method in accordance with flowchart 2100.

The communications device 2200 includes a processor 2208 and memory 2216coupled together via a bus 2209 over which the various elements mayinterchange data and information. Memory 2216 includes routines 2218 anddata/information 2220. The communications device 2200 further includes awired interface 2202, a wireless interface 2204, a GPS receiver 2205, apath loss determination device 2206, a location determination device2210, a display 2212 and a input device 2214. In some embodiments, oneor more of the devices/modules 2205, 2206, 2210, are included inprocessor 2208. In some embodiments, one or more of portions of one ormore of modules 2206, 2210 are included in processor 2208. In someembodiments one or more modules of communications device are,implemented fully in hardware within the processor 2208, e.g., asindividual circuits. In other embodiments some of the modules areimplemented, e.g., as circuits, within the processor 2208 with othermodules being implemented, e.g., as circuits, external to and coupled tothe processor. Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits,all or some of the modules may be implemented in software and stored inthe memory 2216 of the device 2200 with the modules controllingoperation of the communications device 2200 to implement the functionscorresponding to the modules when the modules are executed by aprocessor, e.g., processor 2208.

Via the wired interface 2202 the communications device 2200 can becoupled to the communications network, external device and/or internet.The interface 2202 in some embodiments includes receiver 2222 and atransmitter 2224. In addition to receiver 2222 and a transmitter 2224the interface 2202 further includes an optical interface and/or a powerline interface for communicating with various devices and systemelements. The wired interface 2202 is capable of transmitting/receivinginformation over a wired link. In some embodiments the wired 2202 iscoupled to other nodes and/or a backhaul via link 2230. In someembodiments the wired and/or optical interface 2202 is an Ethernetinterface.

The communications device 2200 further includes a wireless interface2204 via which the communications device 2200 communicates with wirelessdevices. The wireless interface 2204 includes a wireless receiver module2226 coupled to receive antenna 2225, via which the communicationsdevice 2200 receives radio signals. The radio signals include, e.g.,beacon signals. The wireless interface 2204 further includes a wirelesstransmitter 2228 coupled to transmit antenna 2227 via which the device2200 transmits radio signals. In some embodiments, the same antenna isused for both input and output wireless communications signaling. Insome embodiments the wireless interface 2204 is a WAN (wide areanetwork) radio module. In some embodiments the wireless interface 2204includes a plurality of wireless transmitter/receiver modules capable oftransmitting and receiving variety of wireless signals, e.g., WiFisignals, LTE direct beacon signals, beacons, Bluetooth beacons etc.Various other types of radio modules may be used in the wirelessinterface in some embodiments. Thus, in some embodiments, the differentradio modules in the wireless interface correspond to differentcommunications technologies, different communications protocols and/ordifferent frequency bands. While a variety of radio modules may be usedin the communications device 2200 in some embodiments, in accordancewith one aspect of the invention even when the communications device2200 does not actually include a particular type of wireless receiverwhich would otherwise be needed to receive the particular type of beaconsignal, it can still claim to have received a beacon (e.g., virtualbeacon signal). The receivers included in the interfaces 2204, 2206 areconfigured to receive signals (e.g., control signals, beacon signalsetc.) and process them to recover information and/or data communicatedin a received signal.

In some embodiments the communications device 2200 receives input (e.g.,via interface 2202, interface 2204 and/or input device 2214) includingbeacon transmitter information. In various embodiments the processor2208 is configured to control the device 2200 to store, in memory 2216,the beacon transmitter information. In some embodiments the beacontransmitter information includes, for a first beacon signal, informationindicating: i) a location of a first beacon transmitter which transmitsthe first beacon signal, ii) a transmit power level of the first beaconsignal; and iii) information communicated by the first beacon signal. Insome embodiments the first beacon transmitter is a virtual beacontransmitter. The beacon transmitter information may be stored as part ofdata/information 2220 in memory 2216. In addition to thedata/information 2220 the memory 2216 in some embodiments includesroutines 2218 including control and communications routines.

The GPS receiver 2205 is configured to receive GPS signals and provideGPS position coordinates as an input to the location determinationmodule 2210. The location determination module 2210 is configured todetermine the location of the communications device based on, e.g., theGPS data received from the GPS receiver 2205 or based onsignals/information received from other devices. In some embodiments thecommunications device 2200 is a network node and the locationdetermination module 2210 is configured to determine the location of awireless terminal, e.g., based on the signals received from the wirelessterminal or based on information received from other devices. In someembodiments the communications device 2200 is a wireless terminal. Insome such embodiments the location determination module 2210 isconfigured to determine the wireless terminal location, e.g., based onGPS data acquired by the GPS receiver 2205 and/or based on signal fromother devices, or based on location information communicated to thewireless terminal from a network node such as network node 2020 or anaccess point. Thus it should be appreciated that the locationinformation of the wireless terminal may be determined or received fromanother device.

The input device 2214 may include a keypad, microphone, touch-sensitivedevice via which input data can be provided to the communications device2200. In some embodiments the processor 2208 is configured to monitorlocation of the wireless terminal relative to the location of one ormore beacon transmitters (virtual and/or real), e.g., by comparingwireless terminal's current location with the location of one or morebeacon transmitters indicated in the stored beacon information. Invarious embodiments the processor 2208 is further configured todetermine whether the wireless terminal is in the transmission range ofone or more beacon transmitters at a given time.

In various embodiments the processor 2208 is further configured todetermine, based on the location of a wireless terminal and the locationof the first beacon transmitter, a beacon signal to be reported, thebeacon signal to be reported being a beacon signal which would bereceived by the wireless terminal if the beacon signal to be reportedwere transmitted in accordance with the stored beacon transmitterinformation. In some embodiments the processor 2208 is furtherconfigured to determine a received signal strength for the beacon signalto be reported based on the location of the wireless terminal and basedon stored transmit power level information corresponding the beaconsignal to be reported. In some embodiments the processor 2208 is furtherconfigured to generate the message indicating reception of the beaconsignal to be reported, the message including a beacon identifieridentifying the beacon signal to be reported. In some embodiments theprocessor 2208 is further configured to incorporate in the messageinformation indicating the determined received signal strength generate.

The processor 2208 is further configured to communicate, e.g., via aninterface of the device 2200 and/or bus 2209, a message indicatingreception of the beacon signal to be reported to the wireless terminalor a component in the wireless terminal which acts upon informationindicating the receipt of one or more beacon signals. In someembodiments the processor 2208 is further configured to transmit, via atransmitter such as transmitter 2228, the message to a device externalto the communications device 2200 which provides information in responseto reports of received beacon signals.

FIG. 23 , comprising the combination of FIG. 23A and FIG. 23B, is aflowchart 2300 of an exemplary communications method in accordance withvarious embodiments. Operation starts in step 2302 and proceeds to step2304. In step 2304 a Bluetooth base station is operated to communicatedifferent information into different geographic areas by transmittingdifferent Bluetooth low energy (BLE) beacons on different transmissionbeams of said Bluetooth base station. In some embodiments, the Bluetoothbase station is a sectorized base station. In some such embodiments, thesectorized base station includes a single transmitter chain andtransmits into at most a single sector of said base station at any giventime.

In various embodiments, the transmission beams of said Bluetooth basestation are steerable. In some embodiments, step 2304 includes steps2306 and 2308. In step 2306 the Bluetooth base station steers a firstone said transmission beams in a direction relative to said base stationin an area in which a first Bluetooth low energy (BLE) beacon is to betransmitted. In some such embodiments, the first area is an area where agood or service advertised by said first beacon can be obtained. In someembodiments, different individual beams transmit different informationwhich is relevant to the particular geographic area into which theparticular beam is transmitted. Operation proceeds from step 2306 tostep 2308, in which the Bluetooth base station transmits the firstBluetooth low energy (BLE) beacon.

Operation proceeds from step 2304 to step 2316, to step 2322, and, viaconnecting node A 2309 to step 2310. In step 2310 a zone correlationengine is operated to receive received signal strength information froma wireless terminal. Operation proceeds from step 2310 to step 2312 inwhich the zone correlation engine is operated to determine if saidwireless terminal is in a first zone based on a path loss model andinformation indicating a distance between the Bluetooth base station andthe first zone. Operation proceeds from step 2312 to step 2314. In step2314, in response to the zone correlation engine determining that thewireless terminal is in the first zone, the zone correlation engine isoperated to provide information corresponding to the first zone to thewireless terminal.

Returning to step 2316, in step 2316 a sensor is operated to generate afirst sensor signal at a first time. Operation proceeds from step 2316to step 2318. In step 2318, a first sensor time stamp is generatedindicating a time corresponding to the first sensor signal. Operationproceeds from step 2318 to step 2320, in which the first sensor signaland said first sensor time stamp are provided to said zone correlationengine.

Retuning to step 2322, in step 2322 said Bluetooth base station isoperated to receive signals from mobile communications devices, saidreceived signals including at least a first signal from a first mobilecommunications device. Operation proceeds from step 2322 to step 2324,in which the Bluetooth base station generates a first time stampindicating a time at which the first signal was received by the basestation. Operation proceeds from step 2324 to step 2326, in which theBluetooth base station generates a first indicator indicating which of aplurality of antenna beams the first signal was received on. Operationproceeds from step 2326 to step 2328 in which the Bluetooth base stationrecovers first information from the first received signal. Operationproceeds from step 2328 to step 2330 and 2332.

In step 2330 the Bluetooth base station communicates said first timestamp, said first indicator, and said first information to a zonecorrelation engine. In step 2332 the Bluetooth base station providesreceived signal strength information to said cone correlation enginewith said received signal information and the corresponding time stamp.Operation proceeds from steps 2320, 2330 and 2332 to step 2334. In step2334 the zone correlation engine correlates sensor informationcorresponding to a first geographic region and received signalinformation received via an antenna beacon corresponding to said firstgeographic region based on time stamp information associated with saidreceived signal information associated with said received signalinformation and a sensor time stamp associated with a sensor signalcorresponding to said first geographic region. In some embodiments, thereceived signal information is obtained from a Bluetooth low energy(BLE) signal that was received by said Bluetooth base station and saidsensor signal is one of a video or audio signal corresponding to saidfirst geographic region.

In some embodiments, the zero correlation engine is located in one of awireless terminal or a Bluetooth base station. In some otherembodiments, the zero correlation engine is located in a network nodethat is coupled to said Bluetooth base station by a communicationsnetwork, e.g., is located in the cloud.

Operation proceeds from step 2334, via connecting node B 2336, to step2338. In step 2338 the zone correlation engine is operated to estimatethe location of the mobile communications device from which the firstsignal was received based on the indicated received first signalstrength and path loss information corresponding to said firstgeographic region known to said correlation engine. Operation proceedsfrom step 2338 to step 2340. In step 2340 the correlation engine isoperated to update an RF model used in a location determination based onreceived information.

FIG. 24 is a drawing of an assembly of modules 2400 in accordance withan exemplary embodiment. Assembly of module 2400 is, e.g., included in aBluetooth base station, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. TheBluetooth base station including assembly of module 2400 is, e.g., oneof access points of FIG. 1-7 , and/or a base station transmitting abeacon shown or described with respect to any of the FIGS. 1-25 , and/ora Bluetooth base station implementing various steps of the method offlowchart 2300 of FIG. 23 . In one example, the base station includingassembly of modules is access point 700 of FIG. 7 including processor700 and routines 730.

The modules in the assembly of modules 2400 can, and in some embodimentsare, implemented fully in hardware within a processor, e.g., asindividual circuits. The modules in the assembly of modules 2400 can,and in some embodiments are, implemented fully in hardware within anassembly of modules external to the processor, e.g., as individualcircuits corresponding to the different modules. In other embodimentssome of the modules are implemented, e.g., as circuits, within theprocessor with other modules being implemented, e.g., as circuits withinand assembly of modules, external to and coupled to the processor. Asshould be appreciated the level of integration of modules in theprocessor and/or with some modules being external to the processor maybe one of design choice.

Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits, all or some ofthe modules may be implemented in software and stored in the memory of adevice, with the modules controlling operation of device to implementthe functions corresponding to the modules when the modules are executedby a processor. In some such embodiments, the assembly of modules 2400is included in a memory. In some such embodiments, the assembly ofmodules is included as part of the routines in memory. In still otherembodiments, various modules in assembly of modules 2400 are implementedas a combination of hardware and software, e.g., with another circuitexternal to the processor providing input to a processor which thenunder software control operates to perform a portion of a module'sfunction. While shown in various embodiments as a single processor,e.g., computer, it should be appreciated that the processor may beimplemented as one or more processors, e.g., computers.

When implemented in software the modules include code, which whenexecuted by the processor, configure the processor to implement thefunction corresponding to the module. In embodiments where the assemblyof modules 2400 is stored in memory, the memory is a computer programproduct comprising a computer readable medium comprising code, e.g.,individual code for each module, for causing at least one computer,e.g., a processor, to implement the functions to which the modulescorrespond.

Completely hardware based, or completely software-based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented modules may be used to implementthe functions. As should be appreciated, the modules illustrated in FIG.24 control and/or configure the device or elements therein such as aprocessor, to perform the functions of corresponding steps illustratedin a method, e.g., the method of flowchart 2300 of FIG. 23 .

Assembly of module 2400 includes a module 2404 configured to communicatedifferent information into different geographic areas by transmittingdifferent Bluetooth low energy (BLE) beacons on different transmissionbeams of said Bluetooth base station, a module 2406 configured to steera first one of said transmission beams in a direction relative to saidbase station in a area in which a first BLE beacon is to be transmitted,and a module 2408 configured to control said base station to transmitsaid first BLE beacon.

Assembly of modules 2400 further include a module 2416 configured tooperate a sensor to generate a first sensor signal at a first time, amodule 2418 configured to generate a first sensor time stamp indicatinga time corresponding to a first sensor signal, and a module 2420configured to provide said first sensor signal and said first sensortime stamp to a zone correlation engine.

Assembly of module 2400 further includes a module 2422 configured toreceive signal form mobile communications devices, said received signalincluding at least a first signal form a first mobile communicationsdevice, a module 2424 configured to generate a first time stampindicating a time at which the first signal was received by the basestation, a module 2426 configured to generate a first indicatorindicating which of a plurality of antenna beams the first signal wasreceived on, a module 2428 configured to recover first information fromthe first received signal, a module 2430 configured to communicate saidfirst time stamp, said first indicator, and said first information to azone correlation engine, and a module 2432 configured to providereceived signal strength information to said zone correlation enginewith said received signal information and corresponding time stamp.

FIG. 25 is a drawing of an assembly of modules 2500 in accordance withan exemplary embodiment. Assembly of module 2500 is included in a zonecorrelation engine, e.g., a zone correlation engine in a Bluetooth basestation, in a wireless terminal, e.g., a UE device which may be a mobilecommunications device, or in a network node, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment. In one embodiment, a network node, including thezone correlation engine including the assembly of modules 2500, iscoupled to a Bluetooth base station. The zone correlation engineincluding assembly of module 2500 is, e.g., zone correlation engine 1021of FIG. 10 , zone correlation engine 1131 of UE device 1100 of FIG. 11 ,zone correlation engine 1200 of FIG. 12 , a zone correlation engineimplementing various steps of the method of flowchart 2300 of FIG. 23 ,and/or a zone correlation engine described in any of FIGS. 1-25 . In oneembodiment, the zone correlation engine including assembly of modules2500 is zone correlation engine 1021 of device 1000 of FIG. 10 . Inanother embodiment the zone correlation engine including assembly ofmodule 2500 is zone correlation engine 1111 of UE device 1100 of FIG. 11, zone correlation engine 1131 of routines 1130 included in memory 1112of UE device 1100. In still other embodiments, portions of assembly ofmodules 2500 are included in zone correlation engine 1111 and otherportions of assembly of module 2500 are included in zone correlationengine 1131. In still other embodiments, the zone correlation engineincluding assembly of modules 2500 is included in access point 700,e.g., in processor 706, in routine 730 in memory 712, and/or as externalhardware modules, e.g., circuits, coupled to processor 706.

The modules in the assembly of modules 2500 can, and in some embodimentsare, implemented fully in hardware within a processor, e.g., asindividual circuits. The modules in the assembly of modules 2500 can,and in some embodiments are, implemented fully in hardware within anassembly of modules external to the processor, e.g., as individualcircuits corresponding to the different modules. In other embodimentssome of the modules are implemented, e.g., as circuits, within theprocessor with other modules being implemented, e.g., as circuits withinand assembly of modules, external to and coupled to the processor. Asshould be appreciated the level of integration of modules in theprocessor and/or with some modules being external to the processor maybe one of design choice.

Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits, all or some ofthe modules may be implemented in software and stored in the memory of adevice, with the modules controlling operation of device to implementthe functions corresponding to the modules when the modules are executedby a processor. In some such embodiments, the assembly of modules 2500is included in a memory. In still other embodiments, various modules inassembly of modules 2500 are implemented as a combination of hardwareand software, e.g., with another circuit external to the processorproviding input to a processor which then under software controloperates to perform a portion of a module's function. While shown invarious embodiments as a single processor, e.g., computer, it should beappreciated that the processor may be implemented as one or moreprocessors, e.g., computers.

When implemented in software the modules include code, which whenexecuted by the processor, configure the processor to implement thefunction corresponding to the module. In embodiments where the assemblyof modules 2500 is stored in memory, the memory is a computer programproduct comprising a computer readable medium comprising code, e.g.,individual code for each module, for causing at least one computer,e.g., a processor, to implement the functions to which the modulescorrespond.

Completely hardware based or completely software-based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented modules may be used to implementthe functions. As should be appreciated, the modules illustrated in FIG.25 control and/or configure the device or elements therein such as aprocessor, to perform the functions of corresponding steps illustratedin a method, e.g., the method of flowchart 2300 of FIG. 23 .

Assembly of modules 2500 includes a module 2534 configured to correlatesensor information corresponding to a first geographic region andreceiving signal information received via an antenna beam correspondingto said first geographic region based on time stamp informationassociated with said received signal information and a sensor time stampassociated with a sensor signal corresponding to said geographic region,a module 2536 configured to estimate the location of the mobilecommunications device from which the first signal was received based onthe indicated received signal strength and path loss informationcorresponding to said first geographic region known to said correlationengine, and a module 2540 configured to update an RF model used in alocation determination based on received signal information.

Assembly of modules 2500 further includes a module 2510 configured toreceive received signal strength information from a wireless terminal, amodule 2512 configured to determine if said wireless terminal is in afirst zone based on a path loss model and information indicating adistance between the Bluetooth base station and the first zone, and amodule 2514 configured to provide information corresponding to the firstzone to the wireless terminal in response to the zone correlation enginedetermining that the wireless terminal is in the first zone.

The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented using software,hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware. Variousembodiments are directed to apparatus, e.g., mobile nodes such as mobilewireless terminals, base stations, communications system. Variousembodiments are also directed to methods, e.g., method of controllingand/or operating a communications device, e.g., wireless terminals(UEs), base stations, control nodes and/or communications systems.Various embodiments are also directed to non-transitory machine, e.g.,computer, readable medium, e.g., ROM, RAM, CDs, hard discs, etc., whichinclude machine readable instructions for controlling a machine toimplement one or more steps of a method.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses disclosed is an example of exemplary approaches. Based upondesign preferences, it is understood that the specific order orhierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged while remainingwithin the scope of the present disclosure. The accompanying methodclaims present elements of the various steps in a sample order and arenot meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

In various embodiments devices and nodes described herein areimplemented using one or more modules to perform the steps correspondingto one or more methods, for example, signal generation, transmitting,processing, and/or receiving steps. Thus, in some embodiments variousfeatures are implemented using modules. Such modules may be implementedusing software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. Insome embodiments each module is implemented as an individual circuitwith the device or system including a separate circuit for implementingthe function corresponding to each described module. Many of the abovedescribed methods or method steps can be implemented using machineexecutable instructions, such as software, included in a machinereadable medium such as a memory device, e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. tocontrol a machine, e.g., general purpose computer with or withoutadditional hardware, to implement all or portions of the above describedmethods, e.g., in one or more nodes. Accordingly, among other things,various embodiments are directed to a machine-readable medium e.g., anon-transitory computer readable medium, including machine executableinstructions for causing a machine, e.g., processor and associatedhardware, to perform one or more of the steps of the above-describedmethod(s). Some embodiments are directed to a device including aprocessor configured to implement one, multiple or all of the steps ofone or more methods of the invention.

In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g., CPUs, of one ormore devices, e.g., communications devices such as wireless terminals(UEs), and/or access nodes, are configured to perform the steps of themethods described as being performed by the devices. The configurationof the processor may be achieved by using one or more modules, e.g.,software modules, to control processor configuration and/or by includinghardware in the processor, e.g., hardware modules, to perform therecited steps and/or control processor configuration. Accordingly, somebut not all embodiments are directed to a communications device, e.g.,user equipment, with a processor which includes a module correspondingto each of the steps of the various described methods performed by thedevice in which the processor is included. In some but not allembodiments a communications device includes a module corresponding toeach of the steps of the various described methods performed by thedevice in which the processor is included. The modules may beimplemented purely in hardware, e.g., as circuits, or may be implementedusing software and/or hardware or a combination of software andhardware.

Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer, ormultiple computers, to implement various functions, steps, acts and/oroperations, e.g. one or more steps described above. Depending on theembodiment, the computer program product can, and sometimes does,include different code for each step to be performed. Thus, the computerprogram product may, and sometimes does, include code for eachindividual step of a method, e.g., a method of operating acommunications device, e.g., a wireless terminal or node. The code maybe in the form of machine, e.g., computer, executable instructionsstored on a computer-readable medium such as a RAM (Random AccessMemory), ROM (Read Only Memory) or other type of storage device. Inaddition to being directed to a computer program product, someembodiments are directed to a processor configured to implement one ormore of the various functions, steps, acts and/or operations of one ormore methods described above.

Accordingly, some embodiments are directed to a processor, e.g., CPU,configured to implement some or all of the steps of the methodsdescribed herein. The processor may be for use in, e.g., acommunications device or other device described in the presentapplication.

While described in the context of an OFDM system, at least some of themethods and apparatus of various embodiments are applicable to a widerange of communications systems including many non-OFDM and/ornon-cellular systems.

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus of thevarious embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled inthe art in view of the above description. Such variations are to beconsidered within the scope. The methods and apparatus may be, and invarious embodiments are, used with CDMA, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), and/or various other types of communicationstechniques which may be used to provide wireless communications linksbetween access nodes and mobile nodes. In some embodiments the accessnodes are implemented as base stations which establish communicationslinks with user equipment devices, e.g., mobile nodes, using OFDM and/orCDMA. In various embodiments the mobile nodes are implemented asnotebook computers, personal data assistants (PDAs), or other portabledevices including receiver/transmitter circuits and logic and/orroutines, for implementing the methods.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a memory, and one or moreprocessors coupled to the memory and configured to: determine, based ona location of a wireless terminal, the wireless terminal is locatedwithin a beacon coverage area into which a beacon signal is transmitted;and based on a determination that the wireless terminal is within thebeacon coverage area, transmit, for receipt by the wireless terminal,information indicating receipt by the wireless terminal of a virtualbeacon signal associated with the beacon coverage area.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured toreceive input defining the beacon coverage area.
 3. The system of claim1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured todetermine a transmit power of the virtual beacon signal sufficient tocover the beacon coverage area.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein theinformation indicating receipt by the wireless terminal of the virtualbeacon signal includes at least one of a beacon transmitter identifierassigned to a virtual beacon transmitter or a beacon identifier assignedto the virtual beacon signal.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein theinformation indicating receipt by the wireless terminal of the virtualbeacon signal includes at least one of a transmit power of the virtualbeacon signal or a geographic location of a virtual beacon transmitterassociated with the virtual beacon signal.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determineat least one of a received signal strength of the virtual beacon signalbased on the location of the wireless terminal, a transmit power levelof the virtual beacon signal, or a geographic location of the networkdevice.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors arefurther configured to store an association between the virtual beaconsignal and the beacon coverage area;
 8. The system of claim 1, whereinthe one or more processors are further configured to configure a networkdevice to transmit the beacon signal into the beacon coverage area. 9.The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are furtherconfigured to transmit tag information associated with the beaconcoverage area to the wireless terminal.
 10. The system of claim 1,wherein the network device is not configured to receive the beaconsignal.
 11. A method, comprising: determining, by one or more processorsand based on a location of a wireless terminal, the wireless terminal islocated within a beacon coverage area into which a beacon signal istransmitted; and based on a determination that the wireless terminal iswithin the beacon coverage area, transmitting, by the one or moreprocessors for receipt by the wireless terminal, information indicatingreceipt by the wireless terminal of a virtual beacon signal associatedwith the beacon coverage area.
 12. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising receiving input defining the beacon coverage area.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising determining, by the one or moreprocessors, a transmit power of the virtual beacon signal sufficient tocover the beacon coverage area.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein theinformation indicating receipt by the wireless terminal of the virtualbeacon signal includes at least one of a beacon transmitter identifierassigned to a virtual beacon transmitter or a beacon identifier assignedto the virtual beacon signal.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein theinformation indicating receipt by the wireless terminal of the virtualbeacon signal includes at least one of a transmit power of the virtualbeacon signal or a geographic location of a virtual beacon transmitterassociated with the virtual beacon signal.
 16. The method of claim 11,further comprising determining, by the one or more processors, areceived signal strength of the virtual beacon signal based on thelocation of the wireless terminal, a transmit power level of the virtualbeacon signal, and a geographic location of the network device.
 17. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising storing, by the one or moreprocessors, an association between the virtual beacon signal and thebeacon coverage area;
 18. The method of claim 11, further comprisingconfiguring, by the one or more processors, a network device to transmitthe beacon signal into the beacon coverage area.
 19. The method of claim11, wherein the network device is not configured to receive the beaconsignal.
 20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprisinginstructions that when executed configure hardware processing circuitryto perform operations comprising: determining, by one or more processorsand based on a location of a wireless terminal, the wireless terminal islocated within a beacon coverage area into which a beacon signal istransmitted; and based on a determination that the wireless terminal iswithin the beacon coverage area, transmitting, by the one or moreprocessors for receipt by the wireless terminal, information indicatingreceipt by the wireless terminal of a virtual beacon signal associatedwith the beacon coverage area.